Grade 7 Language practice

8 Grade 7 language lessons, including sentences and fragments, phrases and clauses, simple, compound and complex, joining with because, although and unless, verb tenses, active and passive voice and more. Each one has a short video where Pip explains the idea, a worked example, and endless new practice questions with step-by-step help when a child gets stuck.

Step 1: Sentences and fragments

A complete sentence has a subject (who or what) and a verb, and expresses a complete thought. A fragment is missing something.

Example: Is this a complete sentence or a fragment? Running down the street.

Tip: Ask: Who did what? If you cannot answer, it is a fragment.

Step 2: Phrases and clauses

A clause has a subject and a verb. A phrase does not. An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause cannot.

Example: What is this group of words? because the dog barked

Tip: Look for a subject + verb. Then ask: does it make sense on its own?

Step 3: Simple, compound and complex

Simple: one independent clause. Compound: two joined by and, but, or, so. Complex: an independent clause plus a dependent clause.

Example: What kind of sentence is this? When the bell rings, class is over.

Tip: Count the clauses. Joined by and/but/so → compound. Has because/when/although → complex.

Step 4: Joining with because, although and unless

Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, unless, since, while) join a dependent clause to a main clause and show how the ideas connect.

Example: Which word fits best? ___ the store was closed, we went home.

Tip: Reason → because/since. Surprise → although. Condition → unless/if. Same time → while.

Step 5: Verb tenses

Tense shows when something happens: past (already happened), present (happening now) or future (will happen).

Example: What tense is this sentence? Zoe painted a picture.

Tip: "Will" usually means future. An -ed ending usually means past.

Step 6: Active and passive voice

In active voice, the subject does the action ("Maya kicked the ball"). In passive voice, the subject receives it ("The ball was kicked by Maya").

Example: Is this sentence active or passive? The chef cooked dinner.

Tip: Look for "was/were … by". That usually means passive.

Step 7: Commas between describing words

Put a comma between two describing words if you could swap them or put "and" between them: a cold, dark night.

Example: Which is punctuated correctly?

Tip: Try "and": "cold and dark night" works → comma. "three and little pigs" does not → no comma.

Step 8: Misplaced modifiers

Describing words should sit next to what they describe. Otherwise the sentence says something silly.

Example: Which sentence is clear?

Tip: Ask: what is being described? Move the describing words right next to it.

More Grade 7

Language in other grades

Try LearnSum free

Step-by-step video lessons, endless practice, learning games and parent reports. $12.99 CAD a month for up to 2 children, with a 2-day free trial (no credit card).

Start your free trial