Independent Clauses and Punctuation Quiz

Which of the following is correctly written as two independent clauses?

• I stayed up late last night, I had to finish my essay.

• I stayed up late last night; I had to finish my essay.

• I stayed up late last night: because I had to finish my essay.

• I stayed up late last night I had to finish my essay.

Choose the sentence with two independent clauses joined incorrectly (a comma splice).

• The restaurant was crowded, so we decided to eat somewhere else.

• We had already seen the movie, but we watched it again.

• The game was canceled, it started raining heavily.

• I wanted to go for a walk, yet it was too hot outside.

Which choice shows the correct way to join the following two independent clauses? Original: The dog barked loudly. The neighbors complained.

• The dog barked loudly, the neighbors complained.

• The dog barked loudly the neighbors complained.

• The dog barked loudly; the neighbors complained.

• The dog barked loudly because the neighbors complained.

Which of the following is an independent clause that could stand alone as a complete sentence?

• Since the car wouldn’t start.

• After the movie ended.

• We ordered pizza for dinner.

• Because she was tired.

Which version of the sentence is punctuated correctly?

• I want to go to the concert, but I don’t have enough money.

• I want to go to the concert but, I don’t have enough money.

• I want to go to the concert but, don’t have enough money.

• I want to go to the concert but I don’t, have enough money.

Which sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a semicolon?

• She forgot her homework; and she asked the teacher for extra time.

• She forgot her homework; she asked the teacher for extra time.

• She forgot her homework, she asked the teacher for extra time.

• She forgot her homework because she asked the teacher for extra time.

Which sentence is correct?

• The storm knocked out the power, we had to light candles.

• The storm knocked out the power, and we had to light candles.

• The storm knocked out the power; and we had to light candles.

• The storm knocked out the power because we had to light candles.

Choose the sentence that contains two independent clauses joined correctly.

• My brother likes soccer however I prefer basketball.

• My brother likes soccer; however, I prefer basketball.

• My brother likes soccer however, I prefer basketball.

• My brother likes soccer, I prefer basketball.

Which sentence correctly joins the independent clauses?

• I woke up late I missed the bus.

• I woke up late; I missed the bus.

• I woke up late, I missed the bus.

• I woke up late but, I missed the bus.

Which sentence uses punctuation correctly to separate two independent clauses?

• We love hiking in the mountains, it’s our favorite weekend activity.

• We love hiking in the mountains it’s our favorite weekend activity.

• We love hiking in the mountains; it’s our favorite weekend activity.

• We love hiking in the mountains: it’s our favorite weekend activity.