Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 545 · 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?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
33. 33.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
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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