Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 403 · 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?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
13. 13.What is the subordinate 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
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
18. 18.What is the main 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
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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