Sentence Facts
1. What is an independent clause?
Is a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb.
“Allison is the teacher.” “I walked to school.”
2. What is a dependent clause?
It’s not a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb.
“After I got home.”
“Because I’m tired.”
3. What is a simple sentence?
Has only one clause. (1 subject/1 verb)
“I’m going home after work.”
4. What is a compound sentence?
A sentence that has independent clauses connected by a
coordinating conjunction.
“I’m really hungry, so I’m going to eat now.
5. What is a complex sentence?
A sentence that has clauses connected by subordinating
conjunctions.
“I went home because I was tired.”
Although it was raining, we went swimming.”
6. What are three ways to connect two independent clauses?
-a period + a transition.
I am tired. Therefore, I’m going to
sleep.
-a semi-colon
I am tired; I’m going to sleep.
-a coordinating conjunction
I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep.
7. TRUE– A transition word can begin a sentence that can stand
alone (independent clause).
8. FALSE – A subordinator word can begin a sentence that can
stand alone (independent clause).
9. FALSE – When a dependent clause begins the sentence, a
comma is usually not needed.
10. What are the seven coordinating conjunctions?
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
11. What are some common subordinating conjunctions?
Although, because, before, after,
If, until
12. What are some common transition words?
However, therefore, secondly, in addition, for instance, next, on
the other hand, indeed
13. What is a comma splice? How can you fix it?
Two independent clauses joined by a comma. This is INCORRECT
“I am tired, I’m hungry.”
“The students want to go home, the teacher won’t let them.”
14. What is a run-on sentence (fused sentence)? How can you fix
it?
Two or more independent clauses joined incorrectly.
“The students wanted to go home the teacher wouldn’t let them.
I stayed up all night I’m tired.
15. What is a sentence fragment?
A sentence that is not complete—missing a subject or a verb