Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 268 · 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?
   “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
16. 16.What is the subordinate 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
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) The book is about birds
26. 26.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
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
38. 38.What is the main 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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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