Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 568 · 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?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) The lady is very kind (c) is very kind
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
38. 38.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
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because

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