Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 582 · 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.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
26. 26.What is the main 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
27. 27.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
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) added the rice (c) When the water boiled
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) We have known Tara
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) The plant will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
36. 36.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
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.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
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.

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