Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 338 · 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) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
2. 2.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
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) I know that the earth is round.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) you get orange (c) get orange
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.

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