Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 292 · 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 subordinate 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
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who

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