Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 17 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The river flows past our village.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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