Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 623 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
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?
   “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend
8. 8.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
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) ran in (c) the cat ran in
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
13. 13.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
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
32. 32.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
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
40. 40.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

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