Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 20 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.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
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) because (c) which
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.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
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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