Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 80 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Our school has a big library.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although

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