Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 176 · 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?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Our school has a big library.
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.

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