Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 52 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
4. 4.What is the main 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
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.What is the main 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
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
30. 30.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
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.

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