Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 527 · 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) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
5. 5.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
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) the cat ran in (c) When I opened the door
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.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) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
33. 33.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
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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