Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 435 · 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 subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
6. 6.What is the main 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
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
25. 25.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
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
28. 28.What is the main 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
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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