Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 631 · 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 teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Our school has a big library.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.

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