Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 556 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate 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
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
9. 9.What is the subordinate 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
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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