Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 319 · 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?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.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
6. 6.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
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.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
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
27. 27.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
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
37. 37.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
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.

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