Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 278 · 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?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
9. 9.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
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
24. 24.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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
37. 37.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
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
39. 39.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
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.

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