Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 400 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
6. 6.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
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.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
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend
40. 40.What is the subordinate 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

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