Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 310 · 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?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.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
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
22. 22.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
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
26. 26.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
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) The lady is very kind (c) is very kind
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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