Skip to content
LessonPrint

Simple, Compound or Complex? is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on naming the structure of a sentence, aligned to Common Core standard L.4.1. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next set

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

All 25 sets ask different questions.

Simple, Compound or Complex?

L.4.1

NameDate

Sort each sentence into the right column.

1.Sort each one: Simple or Compound or Complex?

Sort: We ate lunch under a tree., The kettle boiled, and Grandma made tea., After the bell rang, the children lined up., Maya likes apples, but her brother likes pears., Snow covered the whole town., The dog barked until the van drove away.

SimpleCompoundComplex
2.Sort each one: Simple or Compound or Complex?

Sort: If you finish early, you can read a book., A fox crept across the field., The wind blew hard, but the tent stayed up., The whistle blew, and the players ran onto the field., While Dad cooked, we set the table., Leo found a shell on the beach.

SimpleCompoundComplex
3.Sort each one: Simple or Compound or Complex?

Sort: You can paint, or you can draw., The baby laughed at the puppy., The kettle boiled., Although it was cold, we went for a walk., We can walk, or we can take the bus., Because the road was icy, the bus was late.

SimpleCompoundComplex

LessonPrint · L.4.1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Simple, Compound or Complex?

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. After the bell rang, the children lined up. — Complex 2. Maya likes apples, but her brother likes pears. — Compound 3. Snow covered the whole town. — Simple 4. The dog barked until the van drove away. — Complex 5. The kettle boiled, and Grandma made tea. — Compound 6. We ate lunch under a tree. — Simple
  2. 2.1. A fox crept across the field. — Simple 2. If you finish early, you can read a book. — Complex 3. Leo found a shell on the beach. — Simple 4. The whistle blew, and the players ran onto the field. — Compound 5. The wind blew hard, but the tent stayed up. — Compound 6. While Dad cooked, we set the table. — Complex
  3. 3.1. Although it was cold, we went for a walk. — Complex 2. Because the road was icy, the bus was late. — Complex 3. The baby laughed at the puppy. — Simple 4. The kettle boiled. — Simple 5. We can walk, or we can take the bus. — Compound 6. You can paint, or you can draw. — Compound

Questions about Simple, Compound or Complex?

What does the Simple, Compound or Complex? worksheet cover?

It practices naming the structure of a sentence — 3 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core L.4.1: Use relative pronouns, progressive verbs, modal auxiliaries and correct adjective order. The instruction to students is “Sort each sentence into the right column”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Simple, Compound or Complex? practice?

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1 — L.4.1, under Language for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Simple, Compound or Complex? is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on L.4.1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Simple, Compound or Complex? come with an answer key?

Yes. All 3 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Simple, Compound or Complex? can I print?

25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Simple, Compound or Complex? free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Simple, Compound or Complex?, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

More practice for L.4.1

Use relative pronouns, progressive verbs, modal auxiliaries and correct adjective order.

All Grade 4 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.4.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.