Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 392 · 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 crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.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
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library

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