Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 584 · 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 bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.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
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Our school has a big library.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate 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
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
24. 24.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
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because

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