Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 85 · 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 subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.What is the main 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
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
14. 14.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
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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