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Year 7 English — Simple, compound and complex sentences

Count the clauses in a sentence and name it simple, compound or complex.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1."When the bell rang, the children ran out and the teacher smiled." How many clauses does this sentence have?

    • a) Four
    • b) Two
    • c) Three
    • d) One

  2. 2.Which sentence is complex?

    • a) She sang and he played the drums.
    • b) She sang because she was happy.
    • c) She sang, and then she danced.
    • d) She sang a happy song.

  3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex? Write one word. "Although he was tired, he finished the race."

  4. 4.A compound sentence is made of ____.

    • a) two or more independent clauses
    • b) only dependent clauses
    • c) one independent clause
    • d) one independent clause and one dependent clause

  5. 5.How many clauses does a simple sentence have?

    • a) One
    • b) None
    • c) Two or more
    • d) Two

  6. 6.Sort each joining word by whether it joins two equal clauses or makes one clause depend on the other.

    Groups: Joins two equals — coordinating · Makes one depend — subordinating

    • when
    • and
    • because
    • so
    • but
    • or
    • until
    • although
    • if

  7. 7.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

    • The dog barked loudly.
    • Ravi likes mangoes but he hates papaya.
    • The dog barked and the baby woke up.
    • Ravi likes mangoes.
    • Ravi eats mangoes when they are in season.
    • The baby woke up because the dog barked.

  8. 8.Match each joining word to the job it does.

    • and
    • but
    • because
    • although
    • when
    • if
    • introduces a clause giving a contrast
    • introduces a clause giving a condition
    • joins two equal clauses that disagree
    • introduces a clause giving a reason
    • introduces a clause giving a time
    • joins two equal clauses

Answer key — Year 7 English — Simple, compound and complex sentences

  1. 1. c) Three
  2. 2. b) She sang because she was happy.
  3. 3. complex
  4. 4. a) two or more independent clauses
  5. 5. a) One
  6. 6. and → Joins two equals — coordinating; but → Joins two equals — coordinating; or → Joins two equals — coordinating; so → Joins two equals — coordinating; because → Makes one depend — subordinating; although → Makes one depend — subordinating; when → Makes one depend — subordinating; if → Makes one depend — subordinating; until → Makes one depend — subordinating
  7. 7. The dog barked loudly. → Simple; The dog barked and the baby woke up. → Compound; The baby woke up because the dog barked. → Complex; Ravi likes mangoes. → Simple; Ravi likes mangoes but he hates papaya. → Compound; Ravi eats mangoes when they are in season. → Complex
  8. 8. and → joins two equal clauses; but → joins two equal clauses that disagree; because → introduces a clause giving a reason; although → introduces a clause giving a contrast; when → introduces a clause giving a time; if → introduces a clause giving a condition