Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 487 · 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 main clause in this sentence?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
16. 16.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
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate 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
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
38. 38.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
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although

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