Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 355 · 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?
   “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.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
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.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
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) We have known Tara
19. 19.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
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.

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