Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 33 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) I have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.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
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
37. 37.What is the main 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
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.

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