Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 407 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) I know that the earth is round.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) We have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate 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
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
24. 24.What is the subordinate 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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.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
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.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
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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