Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 404 · 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 boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) added the rice
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.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
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
37. 37.What is the main 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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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