Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 488 · 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?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
29. 29.What is the main 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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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