Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 543 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
8. 8.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
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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