Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 40 · 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?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
5. 5.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
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
9. 9.What is the subordinate 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
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
39. 39.What is the subordinate 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
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day

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