Language Arts Lesson 12
Written and Oral English Language Conventions: Grammar and Mechanics of Writing (Grades 9-12)

Instruction 12-1

 

Identify Correctly Used Clauses

http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence/2_3b.htm (Main and subordinate clauses)

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerund.htm (Gerund)

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participle.htm (Participle)

http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/punct.html (Punctuation)

Now let's do a Practice Exercise (top) (click HERE for a printer-friendly version)

Directions: Complete the Practice Exercise below. Consult the Answer Key below for answers once you finish. Review the Instruction material which relates to any questions you do not get correct.

Choose the correct answer.

  1. Before Raoul bought his new car, he remembered that his grandmother might give him her old sedan. _____
    1. The independent clause is "Before Raoul bought his new car."
    2. The independent clause in this sentence contains only two words.
    3. There are two independent clauses here.
       
  2. Alicia's wrist began to hurt, and her mother made a doctor's appointment for her. _____
    1. The underlined part is the sole independent clause here.
    2. The real independent clause begins with "and."
    3. This sentence contains two independent clauses.
       
  3. Zipping around the park in her little sportster, Juditha began to feel, at last, like a millionaire. _____
    1. The underlined part is the independent clause.
    2. Trick question: there is no independent clause.
    3. The independent clause begins with "Juditha."
       
  4. Although Jerzy had taken several courses in computer science, he couldn't solve the problems with his hard drive. _____
    1. The underlined part is the independent clause.
    2. The independent clause begins with the word "he."
    3. The sentence contains two independent clauses.
       
  5. The Celtics have begun their long journey back to championship basketball, working seriously on fundamentals and beginning to attract new fans to the game. _____
    1. The sentence is one long independent clause.
    2. The sentence contains two independent clauses.
    3. Only the underlined part is the independent clause.

Answer Key (top) (click HERE for a printer-friendly version) 

  1. b
     
  2. c
     
  3. c
     
  4. b
     
  5. c

 

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