Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 495 · 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 plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
5. 5.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
6. 6.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
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) Dev went to bed early (c) because he was tired
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) has lived in Pune (c) Riya has lived in Pune
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which

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