Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 566 · 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:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) went to bed early (c) because he was tired
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) The kite is red (c) is red
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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