Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 241 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) went to bed early (c) because he was tired
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
9. 9.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
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
11. 11.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
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.What is the subordinate 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
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.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
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.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
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
31. 31.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
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The river flows past our village.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If

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