Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 449 · 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 mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) The mango was sweet
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.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
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although

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