Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 69 · 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:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
2. 2.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
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) I know that the earth is round.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.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
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) have known Tara (b) We have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.

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