Test Questions on Complex Sentences: Preparing for Your 6th Grade Grammar Exam

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. 🔗 Independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence (e.g., 'I went to the store'). 🧩 Dependent clauses cannot stand alone and usually begin with subordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'because it was raining'). 🔑 Common subordinating conjunctions include: *after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, while*. ✍️ A comma is often used after a dependent clause that comes *before* the independent clause (e.g., 'Because it was raining, I took my umbrella.'). 💡 No comma is usually needed when the independent clause comes *before* the dependent clause (e.g., 'I took my umbrella because it was raining.').

📝 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a complex sentence?
   1. A. The dog barked.
   2. B. The dog barked, and the cat meowed.
   3. C. Because the dog barked, the cat ran away.
   4. D. The dog barked loudly.
2. Identify the dependent clause in this sentence: 'If it rains, we will stay inside.'
   1. A. we will stay inside
   2. B. If it rains
   3. C. it rains
   4. D. we will
3. Which word is NOT typically used as a subordinating conjunction?
   1. A. Because
   2. B. Although
   3. C. And
   4. D. Since
4. Choose the sentence that uses a comma correctly with a dependent clause.
   1. A. After the game we went home.
   2. B. We went home after the game.
   3. C. After the game, we went home.
   4. D. We went, home after the game.
5. Which sentence is a complex sentence?
   1. A. The sun is shining.
   2. B. The sun is shining, and the birds are singing.
   3. C. While the sun is shining, the birds are singing.
   4. D. The sun is shining brightly.
6. What is the independent clause in the sentence: 'Even though it was cold, I went swimming.'?
   1. A. Even though it was cold
   2. B. I went swimming
   3. C. it was cold
   4. D. I went
7. Which of these is a complex sentence?
   1. A. I like pizza.
   2. B. I like pizza, but my brother likes pasta.
   3. C. Because I like pizza, I eat it often.
   4. D. I like pizza and soda.