Clauses Grade7 Topic Assessment Mixed Grade 6 Assessment

In the sentence, 'Although the game was postponed, the team practiced anyway,' what type of clause is 'Although the game was postponed'?

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Main Clause

• Sentence Fragment

Answer explanation

A dependent clause has a subject ('game') and a verb ('was postponed') but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it starts with a subordinating conjunction ('Although'). An independent clause can stand alone, and a fragment is an incomplete thought, which this is when isolated.

Read the sentence: 'When the bell rings, we will go to lunch, and I will buy a slice of pizza.' How many independent and dependent clauses does this sentence contain?

• One independent, one dependent

• Two independent, one dependent

• One independent, two dependent

• Two independent, two dependent

Answer explanation

The sentence has one dependent clause ('When the bell rings') and two independent clauses ('we will go to lunch' and 'I will buy a slice of pizza') joined by the coordinator 'and'. The other options miscount the number of complete thoughts (independent clauses) or subordinate ideas (dependent clauses).

Complete the sentence with a logical dependent clause: 'I finished my homework early ____.'

• so I could watch my favorite show

• my friend called me on the phone

• the dog barked loudly outside

• and I put it in my backpack

Answer explanation

This option correctly adds a dependent clause starting with 'so' that explains the purpose of finishing early, creating a logical complex sentence. The other options would create a comma splice or a compound sentence, not a complex one with a dependent clause.

Which of the following is a sentence fragment because it is a dependent clause standing alone?

• Because she studied for the test.

• She aced the test easily.

• Study for the test.

• The test was on chapter five.

Answer explanation

A dependent clause starting with a subordinating conjunction like 'Because' cannot stand alone as a sentence; it needs an independent clause to be complete. The other options are all complete sentences (declarative or imperative).

True or False: An independent clause must always be connected to a dependent clause to form a sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete simple sentence because it expresses a complete thought. It does not require a dependent clause.

Complete the sentence to transform 'the movie starts at 7 PM' into a dependent clause: 'I need to leave now _____.'

• because the movie starts at 7 PM

• the movie starts at 7 PM

• will the movie start at 7 PM

• and the movie starts at 7 PM

Answer explanation

Adding the subordinating conjunction 'because' turns the independent clause 'the movie starts at 7 PM' into a dependent clause that explains why I need to leave now. The other options create a run-on sentence, a question fragment, or a compound sentence.

Which of the following clauses is the 'odd one out' because it is a different type from the others?

• the team won the championship

• if you finish your chores

• my brother is learning to drive

• we are going on vacation soon

Answer explanation

'If you finish your chores' is a dependent clause because it begins with 'if' and cannot stand alone. The other three options are all independent clauses that express complete thoughts and can be sentences on their own.

You have two ideas: 'The team might lose' and 'They don't practice enough'. How can you best combine these to show that the lack of practice is the *reason* for possibly losing?

• The team might lose, and they don't practice enough.

• If they don't practice enough, the team might lose.

• The team that might lose doesn't practice enough.

• The team might lose; they don't practice enough.

Answer explanation

Using an adverb clause starting with 'If' correctly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. Option A just connects two ideas, C changes the meaning by creating an adjective clause, and D uses a semicolon which shows a close relationship but not an explicit reason.

Complete the sentence by correctly inserting a restrictive adjective clause: 'The car _____ is the one I want to buy.'

• that has the red racing stripes,

• it has red racing stripes

• that has the red racing stripes

• because it has red racing stripes

Answer explanation

This option correctly inserts a restrictive adjective clause to identify which car. Option A is incorrect because restrictive clauses are not set off by commas. Option B creates a run-on sentence. Option D inserts an adverb clause that does not fit grammatically or logically.

The coach explained _____. Complete the sentence with a noun clause that functions as a direct object.

• why the team needed to practice more

• although the team practiced hard

• the team that practiced hard

• a new strategy for the game

Answer explanation

A noun clause acts as a noun. This option answers the question 'The coach explained what?', making it the direct object. Option B is an adverb clause, C is a noun phrase containing an adjective clause, and D is a simple noun phrase, not a clause.