Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 322 · 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?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
9. 9.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
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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