Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 53 · 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) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
5. 5.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
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who

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