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Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 9 of 14

Clauses & Sentences

Simple, compound, complex and more

What your child practises

Finding independent and dependent clauses, naming the four sentence types, and fixing fragments, run-ons and comma splices, the building blocks of varied, clear sentences.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: General Outcome 4 · complex sentences that combine phrases and clauses

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

    What type of sentence is this?

    The library opens early on Saturdays.

    • Complex
    • Simple
    • Compound-complex
    • Compound
    Show answer

    Simple

    Hint: Count the clauses. This has just one independent clause (one subject–verb unit that can stand alone).

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is a comma splice?

    • The power went out, so we lit candles.
    • The power went out; we lit candles.
    • The power went out, we lit candles.
    • When the power went out, we lit candles.
    Show answer

    The power went out, we lit candles.

    Hint: A comma splice joins two complete sentences with only a comma. Look for a comma with no joining word after it.

  3. Question 3

    Which part of this sentence is the dependent clause?

    The book that Amir recommended was excellent.

    • The book
    • that Amir recommended
    • was excellent
    Show answer

    that Amir recommended

    Hint: A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but can't stand alone. It usually starts with a word like because, when, if, although or that.

  4. Question 4

    Which word is a subordinating conjunction?

    • if
    • but
    • yet
    • and
    Show answer

    if

    Hint: Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, if, while…) begin dependent clauses. And, but, or, so and yet are coordinating conjunctions.

  5. Question 5

    Which part of this sentence is the independent clause?

    Since the library was closed, Jay studied at home.

    • at home
    • Jay studied at home
    • Since the library was closed
    Show answer

    Jay studied at home

    Hint: An independent clause has a subject and a verb and makes sense on its own as a sentence.

  6. Question 6

    What type of sentence is this?

    Leo smiled as he opened the letter.

    • Complex
    • Compound-complex
    • Compound
    • Simple
    Show answer

    Complex

    Hint: One independent clause plus a dependent clause (starting with a word like because, when, although, if or that) makes a complex sentence.

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