Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 374 · 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 little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the main 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
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.What is the main 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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) We have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus

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