Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 482 · 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?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
12. 12.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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) The book is about birds
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The river flows past our village.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.What is the subordinate 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
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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