Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 452 · 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:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
27. 27.What is the subordinate 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
32. 32.What is the main 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
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who

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