Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 64 · 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?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
5. 5.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
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) leaves at ten
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) I have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.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
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) The lady is very kind (c) is very kind
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked

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