Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 223 · 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) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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