Quiz on Sentence Types

After each sentence, select the option that best describes that sentence. First, if you need to review the definitions for these sentence types, click HERE; if you need to review the definitions of clauses, click HERE. When you click on "Submit Application" at the end of the quiz, the computer will return your scored quiz. An explanation of each answer will be attached, whether your response is correct or not. 1. Pauline and Bruno have a big argument every summer over where they should spend their summer vacation. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is C. The independent clause is "Pauline and Bruno have a big argument every summer; the dependent clause is "where they should spend their summer vacation." (The dependent clause is a noun clause, the object of the preposition "over.")

2. Pauline loves to go to the beach and spend her days sunbathing. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is A. There is only one independent clause here, and no dependent clause. The "and" is connecting two infinitive phrases ("to go" and "[to] spend").

3. Bruno, on the other hand, likes the view that he gets from the log cabin up in the mountains, and he enjoys hiking in the forest. A. Simple Sentence

B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is D. There are two independent clauses here -"Bruno likes the view" and "he enjoys hiking. . ." -- and one dependent clause -- "that he gets . . . ."

4. Pauline says there is nothing relaxing about chopping wood, swatting mosquitoes, and cooking over a woodstove. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is C. The independent clause is "Pauline says"; the rest of the sentence is an elliptical clause, a dependent clause with the "that" left out.

5. Bruno dislikes sitting on the beach; he always gets a nasty sunburn. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is B. There are two independent clauses in this sentence; they are separated by a semicolon.

6. Bruno tends to get bored sitting on the beach, watching the waves, getting sand in his swimsuit, and reading detective novels for a week. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence

The correct response is A. There is only one independent clause in this sentence. The participles -- "sitting," "watching," "getting," and "reading" -- are verb forms, not verbs, and do not constitute a clause.

7. This year, after a lengthy, noisy debate, they decided to take separate vacations. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is A. This sentence contains one independent clause, one subject-verb relationship ("they decided").

8. Bruno went to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Pauline went to Cape Cod. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence You're right! There are two independent clauses here, connected by the coordinating conjunction "and."

9. Although they are 250 miles apart, they keep in constant contact on the internet. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence You're right! This sentence comprises one independent clause -- "they keep in constant contact. . ." -- and one dependent clause -- "Although they are 250 miles apart."

10. Bruno took the desktop computer that he uses at work, and Pauline sits on the beach with her laptop computer, which she connects to the internet with a cellular phone. A. Simple Sentence B. Compound Sentence C. Complex Sentence D. Compound-Complex Sentence The correct response is D. The sentence contains two independent clauses -- "Bruno took the desktop computer" and "Pauline sits . . ." (connected by the coordinating conjunction "and") -- and two dependent clauses -- "that he uses at work" and "which she connects. . . ."

Results: 2 Correct -- 8 Wrong -- 0 Skipped

Sentence Types Quiz List Guide to Grammar and Writing