Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 331 · 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?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the main 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
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
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.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
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) thanked the man (c) who found our dog
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) I know that the earth is round.
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who

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