Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 34 · 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) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way

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