Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 609 · 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?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) We have known Tara
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.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
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although

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