Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 289 · 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 kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) moved (c) the cars moved
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
17. 17.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
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
22. 22.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
23. 23.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) went another way (c) the bus went another way
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) Mum added the rice (c) added the rice
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.

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