Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 182 · 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?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
18. 18.What is the subordinate 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
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.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
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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
27. 27.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
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate 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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
38. 38.What is the subordinate 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
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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