Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 563 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) You will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
33. 33.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
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here

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