Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 571 · 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) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.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) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.What is the main 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
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
28. 28.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) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
35. 35.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
36. 36.What is the main 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
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.

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