Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 576 · 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 soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the main 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
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
37. 37.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
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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