Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 494 · 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:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
23. 23.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
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) moved (c) the cars moved
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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