Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 405 · 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?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Who (c) Although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) The plant will grow
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) thanked the man (c) who found our dog
27. 27.What is the main 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
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red

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