Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 196 · 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?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) will be cancelled
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate 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

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