Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 420 · 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?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (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) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that

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