Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 216 · 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) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
20. 20.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
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) I know that the earth is round.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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