Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 93 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
27. 27.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
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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