Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 343 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) added the rice (c) Mum added the rice
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) moved (c) the cars moved
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although

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