Sentence Structure Quiz With Answers!

Reviewed by Juliette Firla
Juliette Firla, MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Review Board Member
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.
, MA (Teaching Writing)
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Sentence Structure Quiz With Answers! - Quiz

How good are you at making sentences? With this sentence structure quiz, you can test your knowledge regarding the different types of sentences. . A sentence is a combination of words in which each word carries a meaning, whether it's the subject or a predicate; everything is essential to form a clear and cohesive statement or thought. This quiz is meant to practice identifying whether sentences are simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. Do you think you can do it? Let’s see! Share your results with friends and see who can get the highest score! Good luck!


Sentence Structure Questions and Answers

  • 1. 

    The bus slowed and pulled up to the curb in front of a T-shirt shop.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    D. Simple
    Explanation
    This sentence is a simple sentence because it contains only one independent clause. It has a subject ("bus") and a verb ("slowed" and "pulled up") and expresses a complete thought. There are no dependent clauses or conjunctions to connect multiple clauses, making it a simple sentence.

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  • 2. 

    Other small stores lined both sides of the street for the next few blocks, and Chris quickly scanned the names on the storefronts nearby.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    B. Compound
    Explanation
    The sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction "and." The first independent clause is "Other small stores lined both sides of the street for the next few blocks," and the second independent clause is "Chris quickly scanned the names on the storefronts nearby." Both clauses are complete thoughts, and they are connected to express related ideas.

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  • 3. 

    Pat put his glasses on, too.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    D. Simple
    Explanation
    This sentence comprises one independent clause, "Pat put his glasses on, too." It forms a complete thought with a subject ("Pat") and a predicate ("put his glasses on, too"). There are no dependent clauses or additional independent clauses, making it a simple sentence with a straightforward structure.

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  • 4. 

    A few people strolled by them while they stood on the sidewalk, glancing around, but nobody seemed especially curious.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    C. Compound-complex
    Explanation
    This sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by "but" (compound) and an additional dependent clause ("while they stood on the sidewalk, glancing around") that adds context. The first independent clause is "A few people strolled by them," the second is "nobody seemed especially curious," and the dependent clause provides concurrent actions.

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  • 5. 

    I have only one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    D. Simple
    Explanation
    A simple sentence contains only one independent clause, and it does not have any dependent clauses. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. In your sentence, "I have only one independent clause and no dependent clauses," there is one subject ("I") and one predicate, forming a single, complete thought.

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  • 6. 

    I am a sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    A. Complex
    Explanation
    A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while the dependent clause cannot. This sentence structure adds depth and detail by providing additional information through the dependent clause.

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  • 7. 

    I am a sentence with two independent clauses and one dependent clauses.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    C. Compound-complex
    Explanation
    A compound-complex sentence includes two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. In your sentence, "I am a sentence with two independent clauses" and "one or more dependent clauses" are both independent clauses connected by "and," and "with two independent clauses" is a dependent clause providing additional information.

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  • 8. 

    I am a sentence with two independent clauses and a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon that separates the clauses.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    B. Compound
    Explanation
    A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses (each capable of standing alone as a sentence) joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," "yet") or a semicolon. Since you mention having two independent clauses connected in this way, you fit the definition of a compound sentence.

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  • 9. 

    I contain a subject and verb and cannot stand alone by myself. A subordinating conjunction usually comes before me in a sentence.

    • A.

      Dependent clause

    • B.

      Independent clause

    Correct Answer
    A. Dependent clause
    Explanation
    A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on an independent clause to form a complete thought. In this case, the statement mentions that a subordinating conjunction usually comes before the dependent clause in a sentence. This indicates that the given answer, "dependent clause," is correct.

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  • 10. 

    I am a clause with a subject and a verb, and I make sense all by myself.

    • A.

      Dependent clause

    • B.

      Independent clause

    Correct Answer
    B. Independent clause
    Explanation
    An independent clause is a type of clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it contains both a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. In this case, the given clause meets all the criteria of an independent clause as it has a subject "I" and a verb "am" and it forms a complete and meaningful sentence on its own. Therefore, the correct answer is independent clause.

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  • 11. 

    I am a word that joins words, phrases, and clauses.

    • A.

      Conjunction

    • B.

      Noun

    • C.

      Verb

    Correct Answer
    A. Conjunction
    Explanation
    A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, or clauses together. It is used to connect ideas, show relationships, and coordinate different parts of a sentence. Conjunctions are important in forming complex sentences and adding coherence to writing. They can be used to connect similar ideas (e.g., "and"), contrast ideas (e.g., "but"), show cause and effect (e.g., "because"), and indicate time (e.g., "while"). Therefore, the word that best fits the given description is "conjunction".

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  • 12. 

    Which of the following sentences is a compound-complex sentence?

    • A.

      She opened the window to let in some fresh air and heard the birds singing.

    • B.

      Although it was late, he decided to go out for a walk, and he took his dog with him.

    • C.

      When the rain stopped, she went outside to walk in the garden.

    • D.

      He runs every morning and lifts weights in the evening.

    Correct Answer
    B. Although it was late, he decided to go out for a walk, and he took his dog with him.
    Explanation
    This is a compound-complex sentence. It includes two independent clauses ("he decided to go out for a walk" and "he took his dog with him") connected by "and", and one dependent clause ("Although it was late"), which sets the context for the actions.

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  • 13. 

    Hank, the cattle dog, chased Pete the barn cat into Sally Mae's iris patch, and she was mad!

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound-complex

    • C.

      Compound

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    C. Compound
    Explanation
    The sentence is compound because it consists of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction "and." The independent clauses are: "Hank, the cattle dog, chased Pete the barn cat into Sally Mae's iris patch" and "she was mad." Each of these clauses can function as a complete sentence on its own. When combined with "and," they create a compound sentence.

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  • 14. 

    On Thursday, I threw snowballs at three funny boys.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    D. Simple
    Explanation
    The given sentence "On Thursday, I threw snowballs at three funny boys." is a simple sentence.
    A simple sentence consists of one independent clause, and in this case, it has one subject ("I") and one predicate ("threw snowballs at three funny boys").

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  • 15. 

    Mrs. Johnson writes in her journal as she listens to a U2 album, and she prefers to do this on cloudy days.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound-complex

    • C.

      Compound  

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    B. Compound-complex
    Explanation
    The given sentence, "Mrs. Johnson writes in her journal as she listens to a U2 album, and she prefers to do this on cloudy days," is a compound-complex sentence. This sentence type consists of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.In this case, the sentence contains two independent clauses: "Mrs. Johnson writes in her journal as she listens to a U2 album" and "she prefers to do this on cloudy days." The dependent clause "as she listens to a U2 album" adds additional information to the first independent clause.To visualize the sentence structure:[Independent clause] ["as" + clause] ", and" [independent clause]The combination of two independent clauses and a dependent clause makes the given sentence a compound-complex sentence, which effectively conveys multiple pieces of information in a single sentence while establishing connections between the different elements.

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  • 16. 

    Birds fly, and they migrate towards the south.

    • A.

      Complex

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

      Compound-complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    B. Compound
    Explanation
    The sentence structure is compound. 

    In this sentence, there are two independent clauses:

    1. "Birds fly."
    2. "They migrate towards the south."

    These two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction "and."

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  • 17. 

    Bugs Bunny was a great philosopher and trickster in his Warner Bros. cartoons.

    • A.

      Dependent clause

    • B.

      Independent clause

    Correct Answer
    B. Independent clause
    Explanation
    The sentence “Bugs Bunny was a great philosopher and trickster in his Warner Bros. cartoons.” is a simple sentence with only one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. In this case, “Bugs Bunny” is the subject, “was” is the verb, and “a great philosopher and trickster in his Warner Bros. cartoons” is the predicate that provides information about the subject.

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  • 18. 

    Whenever Daddy plays a saxophone solo at the concert, he stands up. What type of clause is "Whenever Daddy plays a saxophone solo at the concert" in the given sentence?

    • A.

      Dependent clause

    • B.

      Independent clause

    Correct Answer
    A. Dependent clause
    Explanation
    The highlighted clause in the sentence "Whenever Daddy plays a saxophone solo at the concert, he stands up" is a dependent clause. This is because it starts with the subordinating conjunction "Whenever" and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on the independent clause "he stands up" to make sense and convey a complete thought.

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  • 19. 

    Identify the type of clause highlighted in the following: The plants that scare me are the ones who sing "Feed Me" in a ghoulish manner.

    • A.

      Dependent clause

    • B.

      Independent clause

    Correct Answer
    B. Independent clause
    Explanation
    Sometimes dependent or subordinate clauses break up a perfectly good complex sentence! Watch out!

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  • 20. 

    "Although Jenna practiced her presentation thoroughly, she was nervous, but she still managed to impress the audience."

    • A.

      Compound-complex 

    • B.

      Compound

    • C.

       complex

    • D.

      Simple

    Correct Answer
    A. Compound-complex 
    Explanation
    This sentence can be broken down into its component clauses to identify its structure:
    "Although Jenna practiced her presentation thoroughly" - This is a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction "although."
    "she was nervous" - This is an independent clause.
    "she still managed to impress the audience" - This is another independent clause.
    The sentence contains two independent clauses ("she was nervous" and "she still managed to impress the audience") connected by the coordinating conjunction "but," and one dependent clause ("Although Jenna practiced her presentation thoroughly"). This combination of multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause classifies the sentence as a compound-complex sentence.

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Juliette Firla |MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.

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  • Oct 23, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
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    Expert Reviewed by
    Juliette Firla
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    Quiz Created by
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