Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 70 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) added the rice
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Our school has a big library.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
37. 37.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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) thanked the man

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