Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 417 · 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?
   “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
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.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) will grow
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) is very kind (c) The lady is very kind
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
34. 34.What is the subordinate 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
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who

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