Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 497 · 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?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.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
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.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
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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