Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 293 · 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 girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
23. 23.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
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) The kite is red (c) is red
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main 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
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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