Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 309 · 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?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.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
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
16. 16.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
17. 17.What is the subordinate 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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice

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