Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 530 · 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 milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.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
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.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
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.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
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door

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