Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 247 · 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) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
5. 5.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 cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) I have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
14. 14.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
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) The kite is red (c) is red
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
38. 38.What is the main 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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that

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