Identifying Clauses Complex Sentences Quiz

1. In the sentence 'If you study hard, you will pass the test,' which part is the dependent clause?

You will pass the test

If you study hard

The test

You will pass

The dependent clause starts with the subordinating conjunction 'If' and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses an incomplete thought.

Explanation

The dependent clause starts with the subordinating conjunction 'If' and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses an incomplete thought.

2. In the sentence ‘We stayed inside because it rained,’ the independent clause is:

The independent clause is the part of the sentence that can stand alone as a complete, logical thought, which is 'We stayed inside.'

Explanation

The independent clause is the part of the sentence that can stand alone as a complete, logical thought, which is 'We stayed inside.'

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3. An independent clause is always connected to a dependent clause by a subordinating conjunction.

True

False

This is false. A subordinating conjunction only introduces the dependent clause; the independent clause is grammatically complete on its own.

Explanation

This is false. A subordinating conjunction only introduces the dependent clause; the independent clause is grammatically complete on its own.

4. Which of these phrases is a dependent clause?

I ate the cake

Since I was hungry

The lights are on

She ran fast

The phrase 'since I was hungry' begins with the subordinating conjunction 'since,' making it unable to stand alone as a complete thought, thus it is dependent.

Explanation

The phrase 'since I was hungry' begins with the subordinating conjunction 'since,' making it unable to stand alone as a complete thought, thus it is dependent.

5. Which phrases are independent clauses? (Select all that apply)

While the sun was setting

The train arrived early

I will meet you there

Before the movie starts

Both 'The train arrived early' and 'I will meet you there' express a complete thought and contain a subject and a verb, meaning they can stand alone.

Explanation

Both 'The train arrived early' and 'I will meet you there' express a complete thought and contain a subject and a verb, meaning they can stand alone.

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6. In the sentence ‘Although it was expensive, I bought the toy,’ which part is the independent clause?

Although it was expensive

The toy

I bought the toy

It was expensive

The independent clause is 'I bought the toy'; it makes perfect sense on its own and is the main idea of the sentence.

Explanation

The independent clause is 'I bought the toy'; it makes perfect sense on its own and is the main idea of the sentence.

7. Identify the subordinating conjunction that begins the dependent clause in the sentence: ‘You can go outside after you finish your chores.’

The word 'after' is the subordinating conjunction that turns the clause 'you finish your chores' into the dependent clause.

Explanation

The word 'after' is the subordinating conjunction that turns the clause 'you finish your chores' into the dependent clause.

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8. A dependent clause always contains a subject and a verb.

True

False

This is true. Both independent and dependent clauses must contain a subject and a verb; the difference is that the dependent clause starts with a subordinating word that makes it unable to stand alone.

Explanation

This is true. Both independent and dependent clauses must contain a subject and a verb; the difference is that the dependent clause starts with a subordinating word that makes it unable to stand alone.

9. In the sentence ‘Before he left for school, he ate breakfast,’ where is the independent clause?

At the beginning of the sentence.

In the middle of the sentence.

At the end of the sentence.

There is no independent clause.

The independent clause is 'he ate breakfast,' which comes at the end of the sentence and can stand alone as a complete thought.

Explanation

The independent clause is 'he ate breakfast,' which comes at the end of the sentence and can stand alone as a complete thought.

10. A clause is dependent if it starts with which of these words? (Select all that apply)

And

Because

While

But

Because' and 'While' are subordinating conjunctions that make the clause dependent. 'And' and 'But' are coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses.

Explanation

Because' and 'While' are subordinating conjunctions that make the clause dependent. 'And' and 'But' are coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses.

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11. If you remove the subordinating conjunction from a dependent clause, what does it become?

A run-on sentence.

An independent clause.

A fragment.

A coordinating conjunction.

By removing the subordinating word, the dependent clause becomes a complete thought (it still has a subject and verb) and can stand alone as an independent clause.

Explanation

By removing the subordinating word, the dependent clause becomes a complete thought (it still has a subject and verb) and can stand alone as an independent clause.

12. In the sentence ‘We took a break when the clock struck twelve,’ the dependent clause is:

The dependent clause begins with the subordinating conjunction 'when' and cannot stand alone as a complete idea.

Explanation

The dependent clause begins with the subordinating conjunction 'when' and cannot stand alone as a complete idea.

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13. The independent clause of a complex sentence is also called the main clause.

True

False

This is true. The independent clause is often called the main clause because it contains the sentence's central idea and can stand alone.

Explanation

This is true. The independent clause is often called the main clause because it contains the sentence's central idea and can stand alone.

14. Identify the independent clause in the sentence: ‘Although she felt sick, she went to the game.’

Although she felt sick

She went to the game

Felt sick

To the game

The clause 'she went to the game' can stand alone as a complete sentence and contains the main information, making it the independent clause.

Explanation

The clause 'she went to the game' can stand alone as a complete sentence and contains the main information, making it the independent clause.

15. Which of these characteristics are true for a dependent clause? (Select all that apply)

It starts with a subordinating conjunction.

It cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

It is the main idea of the sentence.

It contains a subject and a verb.

A dependent clause always starts with a subordinating conjunction (A), cannot stand alone (B), but still contains a subject and a verb (D).

Explanation

A dependent clause always starts with a subordinating conjunction (A), cannot stand alone (B), but still contains a subject and a verb (D).

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16. Which sentence has the dependent clause placed at the beginning?

The dog barked because the mailman arrived.

I will wait until you get here.

If the forecast is correct, it will rain tomorrow.

We watched a movie after we finished dinner.

The sentence starts with the subordinating conjunction 'If,' meaning the dependent clause 'If the forecast is correct' introduces the sentence.

Explanation

The sentence starts with the subordinating conjunction 'If,' meaning the dependent clause 'If the forecast is correct' introduces the sentence.

17. The independent clause in a complex sentence is the part that expresses a _______.

The independent clause is defined by its ability to express a complete thought and stand alone as a grammatically correct sentence.

Explanation

The independent clause is defined by its ability to express a complete thought and stand alone as a grammatically correct sentence.

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18. The sentence 'Since I am finished' is a complete, independent sentence.

True

False

This is false. The word 'Since' acts as a subordinating conjunction, making 'Since I am finished' a dependent clause (or sentence fragment) that requires an independent clause to complete its meaning.

Explanation

This is false. The word 'Since' acts as a subordinating conjunction, making 'Since I am finished' a dependent clause (or sentence fragment) that requires an independent clause to complete its meaning.

19. In the sentence 'I packed a jacket because it was cold outside,' which part gives the reason?

The independent clause

The main clause

The dependent clause

The verb

In this complex sentence structure, the dependent clause, which starts with 'because,' provides the reason or cause for the action in the independent clause.

Explanation

In this complex sentence structure, the dependent clause, which starts with 'because,' provides the reason or cause for the action in the independent clause.

20. Which elements must an independent clause contain? (Select all that apply)

A comma

A subordinating conjunction

A subject

A verb

An independent clause must contain a subject (C) and a verb (D) to be a complete thought, but it does not need a comma or a subordinating conjunction.

Explanation

An independent clause must contain a subject (C) and a verb (D) to be a complete thought, but it does not need a comma or a subordinating conjunction.

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Clause Spotting: Identifying Clauses Complex Sentences Quiz