Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 18 · 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?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) added the rice (c) Mum added the rice
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) We have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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