Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 542 · 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 lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.

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