Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 389 · 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 cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
17. 17.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 old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although

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