Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 91 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
14. 14.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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.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
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who

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