WorksheetsSentence Construction - Key Grammatical Terms
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 19mins
What is an independent (also known as main) clause?
A clause that depends on another clause to make sense. It is a clause that if you removed it from the sentence it is in, wouldn't make sense on its own.
A clause that is a complete thought or idea, and is a full complete sentence that would make sense on its own if we removed it from a sentence.
A clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction like 'when', 'if' or 'as'.
It is a clause that contains a subject but does not have a verb in it.
Tick all of the boxes where the statements about independent clauses are TRUE.
An independent clause contains a subject and a verb.
If we took an independent clause out of a sentence it would not make sense on its own.
An independent clause is a complete thought, idea or sentence.
If we took an independent clause out of a sentence it would make sense on its own.
Below is a list of clauses. Select all of the correct examples of independent clauses
As if there was no time left
He walked in like he owned the place
They considered their options
Although the joke was funny
Which one of the following clauses is an independent clause
and he decided to feed his cat
just as he realised
breaking the glass of the window
she thought carefully about her options
What is a dependent (also known as a subordinate) clause?
A clause that depends on another clause to make sense. It is a clause that if you took it out of the sentence it would not make sense on its own.
A clause that is a complete thought or idea.
A clause that is a full complete sentence that would make sense on its own if we removed it from a sentence.
It is a clause that depends on the use of emotive language.
Tick all of the boxes where the statements about dependent clauses are TRUE.
A dependent clause needs an independent (also known as main) clause to make sense.
If we took a dependent clause out of a sentence it would make sense on its own.
A dependent clause is separated from a main clause by a comma.
A dependent clause is an incomplete thought or idea that depends on another clause to make sense.
Tick all of the boxes that are dependent clauses.
running as fast as he could
They followed the teacher's advice
Although they were exhausted
Despite feeling afraid
What is a comma splice?
An error where two dependent (subordinate) clauses are joined with a comma.
An error where two independent (main) clauses are joined with a semicolon.
An error where two independent (main) clauses are joined with a comma.
An error where a dependent (subordinate) clause is separated from an independent (main) clause with a comma.
Which of the following methods can be used to fix a comma splice?
Removing the comma from the sentence.
Removing the comma from the sentence and replacing it with a semicolon.
Removing the comma from the sentence and replacing it with a full stop.
Adding a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma.
Tick the three sentences that contain a comma splice.
Martin owned his own fruit and vegetable shop, it was located in Deira.
It was the final minute of the match, they needed to find a winning goal.
Although air travel is convenient, it has the highest carbon footprint of any form of transport.
They rushed into the boat on the river bank, they paddled furiously to escape.
Which one of the following sentences DOES NOT contain a comma splice?
He ran to the shops, he couldn't wait to spend his pocket money.
Considering he had supported Real Madrid, it was ironic that he had ended up playing for Barcelona.
The argument broke out into a fight, they were soon swinging punches at one another.
The police car ran out of petrol, the officer would need to call for back up.
What is a fused sentence?
A sentence where two or more independent (main) clauses, or full sentences, are joined together with a comma.
A sentence where a semicolon is used to separate two independent (main) clauses.
A sentence where two or more independent (main) clauses, or full sentences, are joined together without any punctuation to separate them.
A sentence where two dependent (subordinate) clauses are joined together by a comma.
Which of the following methods can be used to fix a fused sentence? Tick all the correct answers.
Adding a semicolon between the two independent clauses (full sentences) that are fused together.
Adding a full stop between the two independent clauses (full sentences) that are fused together.
Adding a comma between the two independent clauses (full sentences) that are fused together.
Adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) between the two independent clauses (full sentences) that are fused together.
Tick all of the sentences where the writer has made the mistake of a fused sentence
Martin owned his own fruit and vegetable shop it was located in Deira.
It was the final minute of the match they needed to find a winning goal.
They rushed into the boat on the river bank they paddled furiously to escape.
Although air travel is convenient, it has the highest carbon footprint of any form of transport.
Which one of the following sentences DOES NOT contain fused sentences
Her ambition was to win Wimbledon the dream was getting closer and closer.
He turned his face away from the screen, he could no longer read the tragic news in the email.
He started out on the endless journey to reach Everest.
Excitedly, he jumped on to the water slide it was an adrenalin rush like nothing he had ever experienced.
What is a simple sentence
A sentence that contains a subject and a verb and expresses one idea, thought or action.
A sentence that contains a subject and a verb and expresses 2 or more ideas, thoughts or actions.
A sentence that joins together two independent (main) clauses by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
A sentence that joins together an independent (main) clause and a dependent (subordinate) clause using a comma to separate them.
Which one of the following sentences is a simple sentence?
He thought they would be worried; however, they were not.
If they got green lights all the way, they would not be late.
He barged his way to the front of the queue.
Just as he left, the roof of the house collapsed.
What is a compound sentence?
A sentence that contains a subject and a verb and expresses one idea, thought or action.
A sentence that contains a subject and a verb and expresses 2 or more ideas, thoughts or actions.
A sentence that joins together two independent clauses (full sentences) by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
A sentence that joins together an independent (main) clause and a dependent (subordinate) clause using a comma to separate them.
Tick all of the correct examples of compound sentences.
They soon dehydrated, for they had not brought any water in their pack.
He had not been prepared for the insults he received, nor did he appreciate them.
Following the previous defeat, the owners decided to fire the manager.
They had always believed he would become an actor on Broadway, but he lacked the commitment to be successful.
Tick any of the true statements about coordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions belong to the FANBOYS family of conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Coordinating conjunctions are a family of sentence starters that create dependent clauses, such as: when, if, as, just, although.
Coordinating conjunctions are a family of words that are used, along with a comma, to join together two independent clauses (full sentences).
Coordinating conjunctions are a family of words that are used to describe nouns.
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence starts with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), and it joins together a dependent and an independent clause by using a comma. It contains two or more ideas.
A sentence that joins together two independent clauses (full sentences) by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
A sentence that contains a subject and a verb and only contains one idea.
A complex sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction, an 'ing' word or an 'ed' word, and it joins together a dependent and an independent clause by using a comma. It contains two or more ideas.
Tick all of the examples of correct complex sentences.
Just when they thought they were getting used to things, everything suddenly changed again.
Gutted by the terrible news, they sat in stunned silence.
The kangaroos were boxing with each other, and the crowd were clapping with delight.
As the lightning struck the top of the church tower, the power around the village cut out.
Sprinting from the scene of the crime, the burglar followed his carefully mapped out escape route.
Which of the following sentences is NOT grammatically correct?
They went to the shops, and they bought 5 kilos of sweets.
The rollercoaster plummeted rapidly, the passengers screamed with fright.
The king had decided to step down from his duties.
When an opportunity comes, you have to take the chance you have been given.
Look at this sentence: 'He faced his greatest enemy, the fear was consuming him.' Which of the following statements about this sentence is TRUE
This sentence is accurate because a comma has been used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause.
This sentence is inaccurate because the writer has fused together two independent clauses without using any punctuation to separate them.
This sentence is accurate because you should always separate independent clauses with a comma.
This sentence is inaccurate because the writer has joined two independent clauses together with a comma and made a comma splice.
Look at this sentence: 'It was the craziest party she had ever been to the people there had been like wild animals.' Which of the following statements about this sentence is TRUE
This sentence is accurate because a comma has been used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause.
This sentence is inaccurate because the writer has fused together two independent clauses without using any punctuation to separate them, creating a fused sentence.
This sentence is accurate because you should always separate independent clauses with a comma.
This sentence is inaccurate because the writer has joined two independent clauses together with a comma and made a comma splice.
