Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 480 · 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?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
29. 29.What is the main 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
30. 30.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
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds

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