Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 42 · 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) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) is about birds
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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