Sentence (Structure) Recognition Practice


A clause is a group of related words that has a subject and a verb.  There are two types of clauses:

  •  Independent (Main) Clause - a group of related words that has a subject and a verb and makes sense by itself.  (Sound like a sentence?  It is!)
  •  Dependent (Subordinate) Clause - A group of related words that has a subject and a verb, but does not make sense by itself because it needs the independent clause to make sense.

Example...

As John drove around the block, Mary went into the store.

Independent Clause - Mary went into the store
Dependent Clause - As John drove around the block


There are four types of sentences according to structure:

  •  Simple: Made up of one independent clause and the subject or verb or other parts may be compound (more than 2).
  •  Compound: Made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, yet and sometimes, for).
  •  Complex: Made up of one independent and one or more dependent clauses.  These clauses are joined by either a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction.
  •  Compound-Complex: Made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

 
Exercise Directions: In this exercise, look at the clauses within the sentence and write down whether the sentence is: simple; compound; complex; or compound-complex.  Remember...the length of the sentence does not necessarily determine type.  It is the types of clauses in the sentence that matter.
 

1. A girl with brown eyes entered the room.

2. Angel and Rose entered the room just as the bell rang.

3. School starts on August 25th and I will be entering the 8th grade.

4. When I purchased my new gym clothes, I gave away my old ones.

5. Since there are so many students in my grade, English 8 will be held for Group A on Monday, Wednesday and Friday one week, and the next week, Group A will have it on Tuesday and Thursday.

6. Scott wrote his letter and sent it to his cousin.

7. Jim, who is in my grade, will have gym on Fridays.

8. John ran to the store and he bought five lottery tickets.

9. Flowers make beautiful gifts if they are bought from a florist.

10. When Stacy came, she walked into my bedroom and she placed the present on my bed.
 

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