NoRedInk Sentence Structure 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which punctuation mark can join two independent clauses without a conjunction?
- Comma
- Semicolon (Correct answer)
- Colon
- Dash
Correct answer: Semicolon
A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a subordinate (dependent) clause acting as a noun?
- When he arrived, the party ended.
- What she said surprised everyone. (Correct answer)
- The dog that barked was my neighbor's.
- She left because she was tired.
Correct answer: What she said surprised everyone.
A noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence and can serve as the subject, object, or complement.
Question 3: How should a comma splice be corrected?
- Remove one of the independent clauses
- Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma
- Replace the comma with a period, semicolon, or add a conjunction (Correct answer)
- Add another comma before the second clause
Correct answer: Replace the comma with a period, semicolon, or add a conjunction
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, and it must be fixed with proper punctuation or a conjunction.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The book that I read was fantastic,' what type of clause is 'that I read'?
- Adverbial clause
- Noun clause
- Adjective (relative) clause (Correct answer)
- Independent clause
Correct answer: Adjective (relative) clause
An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) modifies a noun and is introduced by a relative pronoun like 'that' or 'which.'
Question 5: Which is an example of an inverted sentence?
- The students studied hard for the exam.
- Hard did the students study for the exam.
- Across the field ran the horses. (Correct answer)
- Because of the storm, the game was cancelled.
Correct answer: Across the field ran the horses.
An inverted sentence places the verb or part of the verb before the subject, often for emphasis or stylistic effect.
Question 6: Which sentence uses a correlative conjunction correctly?
- Either you come with me, or I will leave. (Correct answer)
- Both she or her sister are coming.
- Neither he nor them was prepared.
- Not only she but also he were wrong.
Correct answer: Either you come with me, or I will leave.
Correlative conjunctions like 'either...or' must be used in pairs and maintain parallel structure.
Question 7: What is the purpose of an appositive in a sentence?
- To connect two independent clauses
- To rename or describe a nearby noun (Correct answer)
- To modify a verb or adjective
- To introduce a dependent clause
Correct answer: To rename or describe a nearby noun
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or provides additional information about a neighboring noun.
NoRedInk Sentence Structure 3
Which punctuation mark can join two independent clauses without a conjunction?