Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 646 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.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
16. 16.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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.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
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) is my cousin (c) who won the race
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet

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