Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 228 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.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) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) added the rice (c) When the water boiled
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
35. 35.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 baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.

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