Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 45 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.What is the main 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
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.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
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.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
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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