Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 474 · 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?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
9. 9.What is the subordinate 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
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
14. 14.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
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.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
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara

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