Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 318 · 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?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
6. 6.What is the main 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
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.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

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