Sentence Exercise & Practice with Explanation

1. Most Americans would not be happy without a color television, two cars, and an extra job.
Correct Answer: Simple Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has only one verb (would not be) and one subject (most Americans). So it must be a simple sentence.
2. The lion has long been a symbol of strength and power but it is a cruel animal.
Correct Answer: Compound Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has two independent clauses (“the lion has long been a symbol of strength” & “it is a cruel animal power”) which are connected by the coordinating conjunction ‘but’. So it must be a compound sentence.
3. John has not been able to recall where she lives.
Correct Answer: Complex Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has one independent clause (John has not been able to recall) and one dependent clause (she lives) which are connected by the subordinating conjunction ‘where’. So it must be a complex sentence.
4. The chief of the police reported the case to a friend of his, who realized at once that the thief must be an extremely clever fellow.
Correct Answer: Complex Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has one independent clause (the chief of the police reported the case to a friend of his) and two dependent clauses (“realized at once” & “the thief must be an extremely clever fellow”) which are connected by the subordinating conjunctions ‘who’ and ‘that’. So it must be a complex sentence.
5. While the police were using all their skills and knowledge and carrying out a thorough search according to the methods, they had not used their brains.
Correct Answer: Complex Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has one independent clause (they had not used their brains) and one dependent clause (the police were using all their skills and knowledge and carrying out a thorough search according to the methods) which are connected by the subordinating conjunction ‘while’. So it must be a complex sentence.
6. The police expected the letter to be hidden out of sight in some secret place difficult to discover.
Correct Answer: Simple Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has only one verb (expected) and one subject (the police). So, there is only one clause in this sentence and it must be a simple sentence.
7. He had put the letter with two or three others in the letter-holder hanging on the wall.
Correct Answer: Simple Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has only one verb (had put) and one subject (he). Evidently, there is only one clause in this sentence and so it must be a simple sentence.
8. The brothers were told to come home before 6.00 PM but they failed.
Correct Answer: Compound Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has two independent clauses (“the brothers were told to come home before 6.00 PM” & “they failed”) which are connected by the coordinating conjunction ‘but’. So it must be a compound sentence.
9. He was sick but he came to the office when it was required.
Correct Answer: Compound-Complex Sentence
Explanation: This sentence has two independent clauses (“he was sick” & “he came to the office”) which are connected by the coordinating conjunction ‘but’, and one dependent clause (it was required) which are connected by the subordinating conjunction ‘when’. So it is a sentence which combines a complex and a compound sentence.
10. The more she practiced, the more she improved.
Correct Answer: Compound Sentence
Explanation: It is a complex sentence by the rules but it has a unique structure. Both of the clauses of this sentence are dependent on each other. So, both of them are dependent clauses. Only complex sentences consist dependent clauses. So, it must be a complex sentence.
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