Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 599 · 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?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
23. 23.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
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.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

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