Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 492 · 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:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The river flows past our village.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
28. 28.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
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which

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