Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 627 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) The kite is red
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
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?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) is my cousin (c) who won the race
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who

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