Simple, Compound, & Complex Sentences

Which statement about simple sentences is incorrect?

• They are dependent clauses.

• They contain 1 or more subjects

• They are independent clauses.

• They contain 1 or more predicates.

Answer explanation

Simple sentences also known as Independent Clauses (IC) can have compound subjects:

John and Sally love school.

Independent clauses can have compound predicates:

John loves and adores Sally.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1J

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.7.1B

Which statement is incorrect about compound sentences?

• A compound sentences contains 1 dependent and 1 independent clause.

• Coordinating conjunctions are used to join 2 independent clauses.

• A compound sentence contains 2 dependent clauses.

• A comma is ALWAYS used before a coordinating conjunction.

Answer explanation

A compound sentence contains 2 independent clauses joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

I love school, for I make friends.

I love school, and I make friends.

I don't love school, nor do I love friends.

I don't love school, but I love friends.

I can love school, or I can love friends.

I don't love school, yet I love friends.

I love friends, so I go to school.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Correctly type the missing coordinating conjunction (scroll all the way down):

but

yet

and

so

nor

or

Answer explanation

Make sure you add a comma when using a coordinating conjunction to join 2 independent clauses.

You don't need a comma when you are adding a coordinating conjunction to an independent clause:

I like chocolate and peanut butter.

I don't like chocolate nor peanut butter.

I don't like chocolate or peanut butter.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E

Determine which statement is incorrect about complex sentences:

• A complex sentence contains a subordinating conjunction.

• A complex sentence contains 1 dependent and 1 independent clause.

• Complex sentences contain 2 simple sentences.

• Complex sentences contain 2 independent clauses.

Answer explanation

A complex sentence has 1 independent clause and 1 dependent clause.

The dependent clause contains a subordinate conjunction.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

A ________ sentence contains 1 or more subjects and 1 or more predicates.

Answer explanation

Simple sentences are also called independent clauses.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1J

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.7.1B

A __________ sentence contains 1 dependent clause and 1 independent clause joined by a subordinate conjunction.

Answer explanation

There are many (around 50) subordinate conjunctions.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

A _________ sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Answer explanation

Compound sentences have 2 independent sentences joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon.

I love pizza, yet breadsticks are terrible.

I love pizza; breadsticks are terrible though.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

The acronym for coordinating conjunctions is _________.

Answer explanation

An acronym an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E

An acronym for subordinating conjunctions is __________.

Answer explanation

An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E

A dependent clause is also known as a ________.

• fragment

• FANBOYS

• AWUBIS

• coordination conjunction

• subordinating conjunction

Answer explanation

When using the 4Cs, complete sentences mean they are not fragments or run-ons.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B