Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 441 · 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?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
6. 6.What is the main 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
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) will be cancelled
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
25. 25.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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
31. 31.What is the main 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
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.What is the main 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
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate 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
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
40. 40.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

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