Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 652 · 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:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
6. 6.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
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
12. 12.What is the main 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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
21. 21.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
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate 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
32. 32.What is the main 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
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
35. 35.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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way

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