Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 506 · 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?
   “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When

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