Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 593 · 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 main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
6. 6.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
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.What is the main 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
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although

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