Compound and Complex Sentences Quiz

Grade 4 · English · Quiz

Test your knowledge of compound and complex sentences, conjunctions, and clauses.

Questions

1. Which sentence is complex?

   1. She sang a song.
   2. He laughed and danced.
   3. Although he was tired, he finished his work.
   4. We went home.
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   Answer: Although he was tired, he finished his work.

   'Although he was tired' is a dependent clause; 'he finished his work' is independent. Together they form a complex sentence.

2. FANBOYS stands for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

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   Answer: True

   FANBOYS is the standard acronym for the 7 coordinating conjunctions used in compound sentences.

3. A dependent clause starts with a ___ conjunction like 'because' or 'although.'

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   Answer: subordinating

   Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, when, if, since, etc.) introduce dependent clauses.

4. Which of the following is an independent clause?

   1. Because the storm hit.
   2. When she arrived.
   3. The children played in the yard.
   4. If he had known.
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   Answer: The children played in the yard.

   This has a subject ('children'), a verb ('played'), and expresses a complete thought — it can stand alone.

5. A compound sentence uses a semicolon or a FANBOYS conjunction to join two independent clauses.

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   Answer: True

   Compound sentences connect two independent clauses with either a FANBOYS conjunction (plus comma) or a semicolon.

6. Which sentence is a compound sentence?

   1. While she read, he cooked.
   2. The sun set over the mountains.
   3. I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.
   4. Running is great exercise.
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   Answer: I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.

   'So' is a FANBOYS conjunction connecting two independent clauses — this is a compound sentence.

7. In a complex sentence, the clause that cannot stand alone is called the ___ clause.

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   Answer: dependent

   The dependent clause depends on the independent clause to make a complete thought.

8. Where does the comma go in a complex sentence when the dependent clause comes first?

   1. Before the dependent clause
   2. After the dependent clause
   3. Before the verb
   4. No comma is needed
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   Answer: After the dependent clause

   Pattern: Dependent clause, independent clause. The comma goes after the dependent clause when it leads.

9. 'Before she left the house' is an example of an independent clause.

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   Answer: False

   'Before she left the house' starts with a subordinating conjunction — it's a dependent clause and can't stand alone.

10. Which word is NOT one of the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions?

    1. But
    2. Although
    3. Or
    4. Yet
    Show answer

    Answer: Although

    'Although' is a subordinating conjunction used in complex sentences, not one of the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions.

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