9/4 Writing Review

Clauses

100

Is this independent or dependent?

"Because it was raining"

This is dependent! The clause is not a complete thought and needs more.

200

Is this independent or dependent?

"The dog barked loudly"

This is independent! The sentence doesn't need any more information to be complete.

300

Identify the dependent clause in this sentence: "When the bell rang, students rushed to lunch."

The dependent clause is "When the bell rang". Remember, when the dependent clause comes first in a sentence, we use the comma to support it!

400

Turn this dependent clause into a complete thought: "After we ate lunch"

Example:

"After we ate lunch, we were so full that we took a nap"

500

Create a sentence with BOTH an independent and dependent clause about your favorite food.

Examples:

• "Although pizza is messy, it is my favorite food."
• "I love tacos because they are crunchy and delicious."
• "When I'm hungry, I always want spaghetti."
• "Ice cream makes me happy even though it melts quickly."

Simple vs Complex

100

Is this simple or complex? 

"Birds like to eat bugs"

This is a simple sentence! There is only an independent clause.

200

Is this simple or complex?

"Although I was tired, I finished my homework."
 

This is complex! It has both independent and dependent clauses.

Dependent: Although I was tired

Independent: I finished my homework

300

 Turn this simple sentence into a complex sentence: 

"We went to the park."

Examples:

• "When it was sunny, we went to the park."
• "We went to the park because it was fun."
• "Although it was cold, we went to the park."
• "We went to the park after we ate lunch."

400

What makes a sentence "complex"?

A complex sentence has an independent clause AND a dependent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction.

500

Write a complex sentence about school using "because."

Examples:

• "I like school because I learn new things."
• "Because my friends are there, I enjoy school."
• "School is fun because we do science experiments."
• "I study hard because I want good grades."

Subordinating Conjunctions

100

Name 3 subordinating conjunctions.

Answer: Any 3 of these: because, although, when, if, since, while, after, before, unless, until, as, though

200

Fill in the blank with a subordinating conjunction: 

"___ we studied hard, we did well on the test."

Examples:

• "Because we studied hard, we did well on the test."
• "Since we studied hard, we did well on the test."
• "After we studied hard, we did well on the test."

300

Create a sentence using "although" as a subordinating conjunction.

Examples:

• "Although it was raining, we played outside."
• "I finished my work although it was hard."
• "Although I was nervous, I gave my presentation."
• "The test was easy although I didn't study much."

400

How does adding a subordinating conjunction change an independent clause?

A subordinating conjunction makes a clause dependent — it cannot stand alone and must be connected to an independent clause to make a complete sentence.

500

Does this have a subordinating conjunction? "I like pizza and tacos."

No (it has a coordinating conjunction "and," not a subordinating conjunction)

Comma Rules

100

Where does the comma go? "When it rains we grab an umbrella."

"When it rains, we grab an umbrella"

REMEMBER if you have to add a comma, it goes after the dependent clause!

200

Does this need a comma? 

"We went home because it was late."

You don't need a comma if the dependent clause comes second/after the independent clause!

300

Fix the comma error: "The cat purred, when I pet her."

"The cat purred when I pet her." 

(remove the comma; dependent clause comes second)

400

Explain the comma rule when the dependent clause comes FIRST.

When the dependent clause comes first, put a comma after it before the independent clause begins.

500

Write a complex sentence with a comma.

Examples:

• "While I was reading, my dog fell asleep."
• "Because it was raining, we couldn't go outside for recess."
• Before the party, we had to stop at the store to buy a present.

Sentence Scramble

100

Unscramble these words to form a Simple Sentence: BARKED / THE / LOUDLY / DOG

"The dog barked loudly"

200

Unscramble these parts into a correct complex sentence: "we stayed inside" / "because it was storming"

"We stayed inside because it was storming." OR "Because it was storming, we stayed inside."

300

Unscramble these parts into a correct complex sentence: : "the flowers bloomed" / "when spring arrived"

 "When spring arrived, the flowers bloomed." OR 

"The flowers bloomed when spring arrived."

400

Combine these independent clauses into a complex sentence using "although": "I was scared" + "I rode the roller coaster"

Examples:

• "Although I was scared, I rode the roller coaster."
• "I rode the roller coaster although I was scared."

500

Create a complex sentence using this dependent clause: "Before I went to school"

Examples:

- Before I went to school, I brushed my teeth.

- I ate breakfast before I went to school.