Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 214 · 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) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) ran in (c) the cat ran in
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
22. 22.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
38. 38.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
39. 39.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
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.

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