Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 469 · 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?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
11. 11.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
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
14. 14.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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the main 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
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now

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