Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 423 · 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:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
6. 6.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
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
14. 14.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
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) he finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
28. 28.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
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.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

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