Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 365 · 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) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Who (c) Although
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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