Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 456 · 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 kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) is red (c) which Dad made for me
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (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) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) he finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.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
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.

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