Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 63 · 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?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate 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
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
29. 29.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) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) I know that the earth is round.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) went to bed early (c) because he was tired

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