Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 188 · 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 sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) The plant will grow
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
37. 37.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
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) The book is about birds
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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