Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 221 · 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) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the main 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
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) he finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
27. 27.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
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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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