Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 184 · 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?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
11. 11.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
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) is very kind (c) The lady is very kind
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that

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