Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 372 · 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) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) will be cancelled
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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