Have you learned the key concepts and strategies presented in this lesson? Find out by answering these questions, which are similar to the questions you will see on the lesson quiz.
Which of the following is true of a simple sentence?
- It is the same thing as an independent clause.
- It contains only one subject, but it can have a compound verb.
- It is the same thing as a subordinate clause.
- It consists of one independent clause and one subordinate clause.
Remember, a simple sentence is only one independent clause, but it can have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
Remember, a simple sentence is only one independent clause, but it can have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
Remember, a simple sentence is only one independent clause, but it can have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
Remember, a simple sentence is only one independent clause, but it can have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
Which of these is a complex sentence?
- Steve packed his suitcase and did all his laundry.
- Steve packed his suitcase, but first he did all his laundry.
- Before he packed his suitcase, Steve did all his laundry.
- Before packing his suitcase, Steve did all his laundry.
Remember that a simple sentence can have two verbs or two subjects joined by a conjunction. A compound sentence is two independent clauses that are joined. If one of the clauses is subordinate, the sentence is complex.
Remember that a simple sentence can have two verbs or two subjects joined by a conjunction. A compound sentence is two independent clauses that are joined. If one of the clauses is subordinate, the sentence is complex.
Remember that a simple sentence can have two verbs or two subjects joined by a conjunction. A compound sentence is two independent clauses that are joined. If one of the clauses is subordinate, the sentence is complex.
Remember that a simple sentence can have two verbs or two subjects joined by a conjunction. A compound sentence is two independent clauses that are joined. If one of the clauses is subordinate, the sentence is complex.
What makes the following sentence unclear?
Stella needs to study for a test and practice the piano, but she can’t.
- Nothing. The sentence contains no errors.
- It needs a comma before the and.
- There is no independent clause, so the sentence is incomplete.
- There are two possible meanings to the sentence.
The sentence is unclear because we don't know which action she can’t refers to (can’t study for a test or can’t practice the piano?).
The sentence is unclear because we don't know which action she can’t refers to (can’t study for a test or can’t practice the piano?).
The sentence is unclear because we don't know which action she can’t refers to (can’t study for a test or can’t practice the piano?).
The sentence is unclear because we don't know which action she can’t refers to (can’t study for a test or can’t practice the piano?).
What makes the following sentence unclear?
By the time we got to the theater, it was over.
- Nothing. The sentence contains no errors.
- The pronoun it does not refer to another word in the sentence.
- The word but should be included after the comma between the two clauses.
- There is no independent clause.
This type of error is called a vague pronoun reference, and it is created when a pronoun does not refer clearly to a noun in the sentence. Was the theater over? No, the writer probably means that the show was over, but the word show is not in the sentence.
This type of error is called a vague pronoun reference, and it is created when a pronoun does not refer clearly to a noun in the sentence. Was the theater over? No, the writer probably means that the show was over, but the word show is not in the sentence.
This type of error is called a vague pronoun reference, and it is created when a pronoun does not refer clearly to a noun in the sentence. Was the theater over? No, the writer probably means that the show was over, but the word show is not in the sentence.
This type of error is called a vague pronoun reference, and it is created when a pronoun does not refer clearly to a noun in the sentence. Was the theater over? No, the writer probably means that the show was over, but the word show is not in the sentence.
How would you rewrite the simple sentences below to make one compound sentence?
A lioness is very protective of her cubs. They depend on her for food and warmth, too.
- A lioness is very protective of her cubs, and they depend on her for food and warmth, too.
- Because a lioness is very protective of her cubs, they depend on her for food and warmth, too.
- A lioness is very protective of her cubs, who depend on her for food and warmth, too.
- A lioness is very protective of her cubs because they depend on her for food and warmth.
The use of a coordinating conjunction such as and connects two independent clauses and shows their relationship, here letting us know that the second independent clause elaborates upon, or adds on to, the first.
The use of a coordinating conjunction such as and connects two independent clauses and shows their relationship, here letting us know that the second independent clause elaborates upon, or adds on to, the first.
The use of a coordinating conjunction such as and connects two independent clauses and shows their relationship, here letting us know that the second independent clause elaborates upon, or adds on to, the first.
The use of a coordinating conjunction such as and connects two independent clauses and shows their relationship, here letting us know that the second independent clause elaborates upon, or adds on to, the first.
How would you rewrite the following simple sentences to make one complex sentence?
Rain beat against the house. Thunder rattled the windows. The children hid under the bed.
- Rain beat against the house, thunder rattled the windows, and the children hid under the bed.
- With rain beating against the house, the children hid under the bed as soon as thunder rattled the windows.
- Rain beat against the house; thunder rattled the windows; the children hid under the bed.
- With rain beating against the house and thunder rattling the windows, the children hid under the bed.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
How would you revise the following sentence to make it flow more smoothly?
What the problem is is that the public library needs to expand its summer-time hours.
- The sentence is correct as it is written.
- That the public library needs to expand its summer-time hours is what the problem is.
- What the problem is, is that the public library needs to expand its summer-time hours.
- The problem is that the public library needs to expand its summer-time hours.
Here the reader trips over the "is is" construction. To improve the sentence's flow, that construction needs to be revised.
Here the reader trips over the "is is" construction. To improve the sentence's flow, that construction needs to be revised.
Here the reader trips over the "is is" construction. To improve the sentence's flow, that construction needs to be revised.
Here the reader trips over the "is is" construction. To improve the sentence's flow, that construction needs to be revised.
How would you revise the following sentence to make the order of the steps clearer?
The volunteers scraped off the peeling paint, and they applied primer, and they repainted the old house.
- Scraping off the peeling paint, the volunteers applied primer and repainted the old house.
- The volunteers scraped off the peeling paint, applied primer, and repainted the old house.
- The volunteers scraped off the peeling paint,and then they applied primer. Finally, they repainted the old house.
- Scraping off the peeling paint and applying primer, the volunteers repainted the old house.
Just listing a series of actions does not make it clear what got done first, second, etc. When revising for clarity, make time relationships clear.
Just listing a series of actions does not make it clear what got done first, second, etc. When revising for clarity, make time relationships clear.
Just listing a series of actions does not make it clear what got done first, second, etc. When revising for clarity, make time relationships clear.
Just listing a series of actions does not make it clear what got done first, second, etc. When revising for clarity, make time relationships clear.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
