Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 262 · 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?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.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
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
15. 15.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
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the main 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
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.

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