Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 71 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) I know that the earth is round.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
17. 17.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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in

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