Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 585 · 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 school band played the national anthem.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Who (c) Although
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
15. 15.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
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.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
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.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
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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