Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 486 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
17. 17.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
18. 18.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
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Our school has a big library.
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) The kite is red
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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