Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 650 · 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 plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate 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
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.

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