Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 635 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate 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
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
12. 12.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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
15. 15.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
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) will grow
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day

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