Sentence Structure Test
The flustered man watched as the train pulled out of the station. What is the simple subject of this sentence?
Man Yes - This is a simple subject. It is the "who" that is the subject of the predicate "watched." The flustered man No - This is the complete subject. It includes the article "the" and the modifier "flustered." Watched No - This is the simple predicate. Train No - This is the direct object, which is part of the predicate.
The cherry tomatoes in our backyard garden are finally ready to be picked. Which of the following is the prepositional phrase in the sentence above?
The cherry tomatoes No - This is the complete subject. Ready to be picked No - This is the part of the predicate. In our back garden Yes - This is the prepositional phrase. It begins with the preposition "in" and has the modifiers "our" and "backyard" and the noun "garden." Finally ready No - This is part of the predicate.
Which of the following examples is a simple sentence?
The man who wore a checkered tie. No - This is not a complete sentence The man somewhat out of place. No - This is not a complete sentence. The man in the blue pin-striped suit looked somewhat out of place at the party. Yes - This is a simple sentence. It has one subject and one verb. The man in the blue pin-striped suit looked out of place because of his checkered tie. No - This sentence contains a dependent clause, which makes it complex.
The test was ridiculously easy and the entire class got every question right. Which of the following parts of speech is "ridiculously" as used in the sentence above.
Verb No - A verb is an action word, which is not how "ridiculously" is used here. Interjection No - An interjection is a word used to express an emotion, which is not how "ridiculously" is used here. Adjective No - An adjective modifies a noun, which is not how "ridiculously" is used here. Adverb Yes - The word "ridiculously" modifies the adjective "easy" and thus is an adverb.
Which of the following examples is a compound-complex sentence?
We sat down in our seats, and almost immediately the stage lights came up. No - This is a compound sentence. It has two independent clauses and no dependent clauses. Although we didn't realize we were exactly on time, the minute we sat down the play started. No - This is a complex sentence. It has an independent clause and a dependent clause. Just at the very moment we sat down, the stage lights came up, and the first actor stepped onstage. Yes - This is a compound-complex sentence that includes two independent clauses and one dependent clause. The first actor stepped on stage right when we got to our seats. No - This is complex sentence. It has an independent clause and a dependent clause.
