Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 272 · 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 lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) added the rice
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) added the rice (c) Mum added the rice
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.

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