Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 219 · 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 box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which

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