sentence structure simple compound complex sentences

Read the sentences below. Which one is NOT a simple sentence (i.e., which one contains more than one clause)?

• The team practiced for hours in the gym.

• My dog and cat sleep on the rug together.

• After the game ended, we went out for pizza.

• Did you finish your science homework?

Answer explanation

This is a complex sentence because it contains a dependent clause ('After the game ended') and an independent clause ('we went out for pizza'). The other options are all simple sentences, each containing only one independent clause.

What is the simple core (main subject and verb) of the sentence: 'The old, spooky house on the hill has been empty for many years.'?

• house on the hill

• house has been

• spooky house

• has been empty

Answer explanation

The simple core of a sentence is its main subject and verb phrase, stripped of all modifiers. In this sentence, 'house' is the subject and 'has been' is the complete verb phrase.

Complete the sentence with the coordinating conjunction that shows the most logical connection: I wanted to go to the concert, _____ I had to study for my history final.

• so

• for

• or

• but

Answer explanation

The conjunction 'but' correctly shows a contrast between the two ideas: wanting to go to the concert and having to study instead. 'So' would imply studying was a result, 'for' would give a reason, and 'or' would present an alternative.

The sentence 'Maria is a talented artist, she paints beautiful landscapes' contains which common punctuation error?

• Comma splice

• Fused sentence

• Incorrect semicolon use

• Missing apostrophe

Answer explanation

A comma splice is an error where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. To fix it, one could use a period, a semicolon, or a comma with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., ', and').

Which option correctly combines these two simple sentences into a single compound sentence? The basketball game was exciting. Our team won in the final seconds.

• The basketball game was exciting, and our team won in the final seconds.

• The basketball game was exciting because our team won in the final seconds.

• Winning in the final seconds, the basketball game was exciting.

• The basketball game was exciting, our team won in the final seconds.

Answer explanation

This option correctly forms a compound sentence by joining two independent clauses with a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and'. The other options create a complex sentence, a simple sentence with a participial phrase, or a comma splice.

In the sentence 'Unless you finish your homework, you cannot play video games,' which part is the subordinate (dependent) clause?

• you cannot play

• Unless you finish your homework

• you cannot play video games

• finish your homework

Answer explanation

A subordinate clause starts with a subordinating conjunction (like 'Unless') and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. 'You cannot play video games' is the independent clause because it can stand on its own.

Choose the subordinating conjunction that creates the most logical relationship: We decided to postpone our hike _____ the forecast predicted thunderstorms.

• although

• since

• until

• while

Answer explanation

The conjunction 'since' (or 'because') correctly shows the cause-and-effect relationship: the reason for postponing the hike is the thunderstorm forecast. The other conjunctions would create illogical relationships of contrast or time.

How can the simple sentence 'The student aced the test' be best transformed into a complex sentence?

• The student aced the test and celebrated.

• The student, a very smart person, aced the test.

• Because she studied all night, the student aced the test.

• The student aced the test; she was very prepared.

Answer explanation

This option adds a dependent clause ('Because she studied all night') to the independent clause ('the student aced the test'), creating a complex sentence. The other options create a compound sentence, a simple sentence with an appositive, or two sentences joined by a semicolon.

True or False: In the sentence 'The phone that I bought last week is already broken,' the underlined clause functions as an adjective describing 'phone.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is true because the clause 'that I bought last week' is an adjectival (or relative) clause that modifies the noun 'phone'. In contrast, an adverbial clause, like 'because it was on sale,' would modify a verb.

Because it has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, the sentence 'Although I was tired, I finished my project, and I was proud of my work' is classified as a _____ sentence.

• complex

• compound

• simple

• compound-complex

Answer explanation

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses ('I finished my project' and 'I was proud of my work') and at least one dependent clause ('Although I was tired'). This is the only option that meets those criteria.