Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 23 · 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?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.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
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) Dev went to bed early (c) because he was tired
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
33. 33.What is the subordinate 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
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework

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