Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 89 · 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?
   “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.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
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
27. 27.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
28. 28.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
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater

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