S20 - Identifying Complex Sentences

Identify the complex sentence(s):
i. When the bell rang, the students rushed out of the classroom.
ii. The bell rang, and the students rushed out of the classroom.
iii. The bell rang loudly, startling the students.
iv. Although the bell rang, the students remained seated.

• i & iv
  

• i & ii
  

• ii & iii
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentence i ('When the bell rang, the students rushed out of the classroom.') and sentence iv ('Although the bell rang, the students remained seated.') are complex.

2. Identify the complex sentence(s):
i. Even though it was late, she stayed up to finish the project.
ii. She stayed up late, but she finished the project on time.
iii. It was late, but she finished the project anyway.
iv. Since she stayed up late, she was very tired the next morning.

• i & iv
  

• ii & iii
  

• i & ii
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i and iv fit this definition, as they include clauses that cannot stand alone. Sentences ii and iii are compound, not complex.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. After the meeting ended, the team discussed the next steps.

ii. The meeting ended, so the team discussed the next steps.

iii. The team discussed the next steps after the meeting ended.

iv. The meeting ended, but the team stayed behind to talk.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i and iii both have this structure, while ii and iv are compound sentences, connecting independent clauses.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. The book was interesting, but I didn't have time to read it.

ii. Even though the book was interesting, I didn’t have time to read it.

iii. I didn’t have time to read the book because I was busy with work.

iv. The book was interesting, and I really wanted to read it.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences ii and iii fit this definition, while i and iv are compound sentences. Thus, the correct answer is ii & iv.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. Since she studied hard, she passed the exam easily.
ii. She studied hard, so she passed the exam easily.
iii. She passed the exam easily because she studied hard.
iv. She studied hard, and she passed the exam.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

Complex sentences contain an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i (Since she studied hard) and iii (because she studied hard) fit this definition, while ii and iv are compound sentences.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled.
ii. The weather looks bad, but we hope it won’t rain.
iii. The picnic will be canceled because of the rain.
iv. The picnic will be canceled, and we will reschedule it for next week.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentence i ('If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled') and sentence iii ('The picnic will be canceled because of the rain') fit this definition.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. Although he was tired, he continued working on the presentation.
ii. He was tired, but he continued working on the presentation.
iii. He worked on the presentation until he finished it.
iv. He was tired, yet he pushed through to finish the presentation.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentence i has 'Although he was tired' (dependent) and 'he continued working' (independent). Sentence iii has 'until he finished it' (dependent). Thus, i and iii are complex.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. Whenever we have free time, we like to go for a walk.
ii. We have free time, and we like to go for a walk.
iii. We like to go for a walk when we have free time.
iv. We have free time, but we don’t always go for a walk.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i (Whenever we have free time, we like to go for a walk) and iii (We like to go for a walk when we have free time) fit this definition.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. Although they practiced hard, the team did not win the game.
ii. They practiced hard, but the team did not win the game.
iii. The team did not win the game, and they were disappointed.
iv. Because they practiced hard, they expected to win the game.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i (Although they practiced hard) and iv (Because they practiced hard) fit this definition, making the correct choice i & iv.

Identify the complex sentence(s):

i. Since the traffic was heavy, we decided to take another route.
ii. We took another route, but the traffic was still heavy.
iii. The traffic was heavy, so we arrived late.
iv. We arrived late because the traffic was heavy.

• i, iii

• ii & iv
  

• i & iv
  

• iii & iv

Answer explanation

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Sentences i (Since the traffic was heavy) and iv (because the traffic was heavy) fit this definition, making them the correct choices.