Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 528 · 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 crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
6. 6.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
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) I have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) Mum added the rice (c) added the rice
22. 22.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
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.

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