Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 211 · 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:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) I know that the earth is round.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who

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