Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 393 · 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 bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
14. 14.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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
28. 28.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
29. 29.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
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts

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