Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 60 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) added the rice
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
15. 15.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
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
18. 18.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
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the main 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
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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