Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 320 · 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) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
16. 16.What is the main 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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) You will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
27. 27.What is the subordinate 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
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate 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
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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