Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 88 · 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 bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) when (c) which
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
18. 18.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
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) leaves at ten
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) The plant will grow (b) will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
32. 32.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
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because

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