Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 171 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
7. 7.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
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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