Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 560 · 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?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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