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Grade 6 · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 11

Commas & Clauses

Clauses, sentence types and commas

What your child practises

Finding dependent clauses, telling simple, compound and complex sentences apart, and using commas in lists, compound sentences, introductions and appositives.

Ontario Curriculum expectation: B3.1, B3.3 · clauses and commas

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What type of sentence is this?

    If it snows tomorrow, we will build a snowman.

    • Simple
    • Compound
    • Complex
    Show answer

    Complex

    Hint: It has one independent clause plus a dependent clause that starts with a word like when, because, if, who or which.

  2. Question 2

    Which word is the subordinating conjunction?

    Although Noah was nervous, he gave a great speech.

    • speech
    • nervous
    • Although
    • gave
    Show answer

    Although

    Hint: Which word starts the dependent clause?

  3. Question 3

    Which part is the dependent (subordinate) clause?

    We stayed inside until the storm passed.

    • the storm
    • We stayed inside
    • until the storm passed
    • stayed inside until
    Show answer

    until the storm passed

    Hint: Dependent clauses can come at the end too. Look for “until.”

  4. Question 4

    What type of sentence is this?

    After lunch, the class walked to the library.

    • Complex
    • Simple
    • Compound
    Show answer

    Simple

    Hint: It has just one independent clause, even if it has two subjects or two verbs.

  5. Question 5

    Which word is the subordinating conjunction?

    Since the gym was busy, we practised outside.

    • Since
    • busy
    • outside
    • gym
    Show answer

    Since

    Hint: Which word makes “the gym was busy” unable to stand alone?

  6. Question 6

    Why is there a comma in this sentence? “Ravi made dinner, and Ana washed the dishes.”

    • It sets off an introductory word.
    • It separates items in a list.
    • It separates a dependent clause at the end.
    • It comes before “and” to join two independent clauses.
    Show answer

    It comes before “and” to join two independent clauses.

    Hint: Both “Ravi made dinner” and “Ana washed the dishes” could stand alone.

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