Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 265 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.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
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.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
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.

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