Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 385 · 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 plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
17. 17.What is the main 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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Who (c) Although
26. 26.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
27. 27.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
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although

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