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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will build on our knowledge of sentences by looking at some of the mistakes students make when they are writing. These mistakes are called 'fused sentences' and 'comma splices'.

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8 Questions

Q1.
A sentence must contain...
a capital letter and an adjective
a subject and a capital letter
Correct answer: a subject and a verb
a verb
Q2.
The subject of a sentence is...
always a person.
always has a capital letter.
is at the start.
Correct answer: is who or what is doing the main action.
Q3.
What is the subject of this sentence: "Even though he had lots of friends, Jacob wished he had a best friend."
best friend
friends
he
Correct answer: Jacob
Q4.
Which of these does NOT cause a sentence to be called a fragment if the sentence does not include it.
a complete idea
a subject
a verb
Correct answer: an adjective
Q5.
Which of the statements is true about the following phrase? "Despite knowing he was sick."
This is a complete sentence.
Correct answer: This is a fragment.
Q6.
Which of the statements is true about the following phrase? "Every morning, John and Cara argued."
Correct answer: This is a complete sentence.
This is a fragment.
Q7.
Which of the statements is true about the following phrase? "The play at nine o'clock."
This is a complete sentence.
Correct answer: This is a fragment.
Q8.
The phrase "Although it was funny." is a fragment. Which of the options below make it a correct sentence?
Correct answer: Although it was funny, it was not right to laugh at James falling over.
Although it was funny, James.
He jumped really high although it was funny.
It did although it was funny.

8 Questions

Q1.
An independent clause can be...
A mistake.
An interesting way of writing.
Correct answer: Understood by itself.
Q2.
Choose the statements which are independent clauses.
Although he worked.
Because she was.
The plate needed washing up.
Correct answer: The sea was beautiful.
Q3.
A comma splice is...
Any sentence with a comma in it.
Correct answer: Two independent clauses joined by a comma.
Using a comma at the end of a sentence.
Using commas in a list.
Q4.
Which of the following is an example of a comma splice?
Although the sun had set, it still felt warm outside.
I need to go to the shops to buy milk, eggs and bread.
I would like pizza for tea. I might get pepperoni,
Correct answer: John and Sharon argued, they did not like each other.
Q5.
Which of the statements is true about the following example? "James felt confident for the test."
This is a comma splice.
This is a fragment.
This is a fused sentence.
Correct answer: This is an independent clause.
Q6.
Which of the statements is true about the following example? "James felt confident for the test and he had studied hard."
This is a comma splice.
This is a fragment.
Correct answer: This is a fused sentence.
This is an independent clause.
Q7.
Which of the statements is true about the following example? "James felt confident for the test, he had studied hard."
Correct answer: This is a comma splice.
This is a fragment.
This is a fused sentence.
This is two independent clauses joined properly.
Q8.
This is a fused sentence: "I bought a new dress for the party it sparkles and catches the light beautifully." Which of the options below makes this correct?
I bought a new dress for the party, It sparkles and catches the light beautifully.
Correct answer: I bought a new dress for the party; it sparkles and catches the light beautifully.