Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 442 · 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 puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) You will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved

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