Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 352 · 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) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.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
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) The plant will grow
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) is my cousin (c) who won the race
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
28. 28.What is the main 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
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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