Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 81 · 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 boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) you get orange (c) get orange
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
35. 35.What is the subordinate 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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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