Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 505 · 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?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
19. 19.What is the main 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
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) The kite is red (c) is red
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the main 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
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.

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