Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 194 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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