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Grade 4 · English Language Arts · Unit 10 of 16

Sentence Builders

Clauses and phrases

What your child practises

Spotting independent and dependent clauses and prepositional phrases, joining ideas into compound and complex sentences, and fixing run-ons and fragments.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: Examine and apply grammar, spelling, and punctuation to develop concise written communication. · building and combining sentences

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which is a complex sentence?

    • We played outside.
    • It was cold, so we stayed inside.
    • Although it was cold, we played outside.
    Show answer

    Although it was cold, we played outside.

    Hint: Although begins a dependent clause joined to a main idea.

  2. Question 2

    Which is a compound sentence?

    • Jay plays the flute, and Aiyana plays the drums.
    • Jay plays the flute because he loves music.
    • Jay plays the flute in the band.
    Show answer

    Jay plays the flute, and Aiyana plays the drums.

    Hint: A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with and, but or so.

  3. Question 3

    Which is a prepositional phrase? The kitten hid behind the sofa.

    • The kitten hid
    • behind the sofa
    • hid behind
    Show answer

    behind the sofa

    Hint: It starts with a preposition (behind) and ends with a noun.

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is complete?

    • Winding up the mountain.
    • The trail winds up the mountain.
    • Up the mountain on the trail.
    Show answer

    The trail winds up the mountain.

    Hint: A complete sentence has a subject and a verb that tells what the subject does.

  5. Question 5

    Which is a prepositional phrase? The cat slept under the warm blanket.

    • under the warm blanket
    • slept under
    • The cat slept
    Show answer

    under the warm blanket

    Hint: A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (under) and ends with a noun.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence has two prepositional phrases?

    • The ball rolled down the hill into the pond.
    • The ball splashed loudly.
    • The ball rolled quickly.
    Show answer

    The ball rolled down the hill into the pond.

    Hint: Down the hill and into the pond each begin with a preposition.

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