Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 253 · 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?
   “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) will grow
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.What is the main 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
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although

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