Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 206 · 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 puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
13. 13.What is the subordinate 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
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
16. 16.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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) finished his homework
25. 25.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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.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
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.

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