Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 620 · 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 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
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
32. 32.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
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.

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