Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 621 · 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?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) I know that the earth is round.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
34. 34.What is the main 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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.

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