Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 419 · 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?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.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
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
23. 23.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
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.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
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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