Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 590 · 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 baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
14. 14.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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) is red (c) which Dad made for me
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) leaves at ten
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which

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