Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 49 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) is very kind (c) The lady is very kind
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
34. 34.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
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) The mango was sweet

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