Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 644 · 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 teacher said that we did well. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
12. 12.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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
24. 24.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) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
32. 32.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
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.

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