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Grade 7 English Language Arts — Simple, compound and complex sentences

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

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex? Write one word. "The children played in the park all afternoon."

  2. 2.Put the parts in order to make one correct complex sentence.

    • Because
    • indoors.
    • we
    • it
    • was
    • stayed
    • raining,

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

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

  4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex? Write one word. "The bell rang, so the children ran out."

  5. 5.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
    • if
    • or
    • until
    • because
    • although
    • and
    • but
    • so

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

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

  7. 7.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

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

  8. 8.Which sentence is compound?

    • a) We went out when the rain stopped.
    • b) The rain stopped suddenly.
    • c) After the rain stopped, we went out.
    • d) The rain stopped and we went out.

Answer key — Grade 7 English Language Arts — Simple, compound and complex sentences

  1. 1. simple
  2. 2. 1. Because 2. it 3. was 4. raining, 5. we 6. stayed 7. indoors.
  3. 3. a) One
  4. 4. compound
  5. 5. 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
  6. 6. b) two or more independent clauses
  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. d) The rain stopped and we went out.