Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 90 · 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?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
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?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
23. 23.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
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) he finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.

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