Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 354 · 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?
   “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.What is the main 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
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
29. 29.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
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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