Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 6 · 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?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
11. 11.What is the main 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
16. 16.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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
37. 37.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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
40. 40.What is the subordinate 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

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