Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 428 · 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.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
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
3. 3.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
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) We have known Tara
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The river flows past our village.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.

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