Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 458 · 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?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
35. 35.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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day

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