Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 39 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) You will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) I know that the earth is round.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) thanked the man
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
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:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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