Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 286 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) because (c) which
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
24. 24.What is the main 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
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
28. 28.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
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) the cat ran in (c) When I opened the door
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake

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