Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 254 · 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 bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) The plant will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.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
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
12. 12.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
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate 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
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater

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