Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 461 · 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 house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
3. 3.What is the main 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
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) leaves at ten
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since

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