Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 231 · 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) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
4. 4.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
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend

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