Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 625 · 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?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
14. 14.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
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
16. 16.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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
38. 38.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
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) The river flows past our village.
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework

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