Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 96 · 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?
   “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If

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