Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 313 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
3. 3.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
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate 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
7. 7.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
8. 8.What is the subordinate 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
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.

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