Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 414 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
11. 11.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
12. 12.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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
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.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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