Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 58 · 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) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
2. 2.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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.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
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.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

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