Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 95 · 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?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
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 main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
28. 28.What is the subordinate 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
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
39. 39.What is the subordinate 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
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) who (c) which

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