Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 246 · 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?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Our school has a big library.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.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
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.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
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.

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