Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 557 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
33. 33.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
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.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) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who

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