Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 303 · 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?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
20. 20.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
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
30. 30.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
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.

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