Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 396 · 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?
   “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) The lady is very kind (c) is very kind
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
38. 38.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) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.

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