Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 205 · 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 plants died because nobody watered them. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
8. 8.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
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) The plant will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The river flows past our village.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) We have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1

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