Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 483 · 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?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Our school has a big library.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) I know that the earth is round.
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although

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