Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 260 · 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?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
5. 5.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
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
24. 24.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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) is red (c) which Dad made for me

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