Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 415 · 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:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
26. 26.What is the main 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
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.What is the main 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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked

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