Subordinate Clauses Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. An editor wants to combine “The oven heated” and “Ravi prepared the filling” to show that the actions happened at the same time. Which sentence is complete and correctly structured?
While the oven heated, Ravi prepared the filling.
The oven heated while, and Ravi prepared the filling afterward.
While heating the oven and preparing Ravi’s filling.
During the oven’s heating, while Ravi prepared.
2. In “Although the task was difficult, Mina finished it on time,” what relationship does “although” establish?
Concession: Mina finished despite the difficulty
Cause: the difficulty made Mina finish
Purpose: Mina finished in order to create difficulty
Sequence: Mina finished before the difficulty began
3. Which revision correctly turns the fragment “Because the bus was delayed” into a complete sentence?
The bus, because it was delayed.
Because the bus was delayed, we arrived after noon.
Because the delayed bus.
Because the bus was delayed and after noon.
4. Which word best completes the sentence if entry is allowed only on the condition that a visitor has a ticket: “You cannot enter ___ you have a ticket”?
although
unless
whereas
because
5. Which sentence correctly attaches a reason clause to a main clause?
We stayed indoors, the storm because grew stronger.
We stayed indoors because the storm grew stronger.
Because the storm growing stronger we stayed indoors.
We stayed because indoors the storm grew stronger.
6. How should this sentence be punctuated in standard written English: “When the meeting ends we will call a taxi”?
Place a comma after “call” to separate the verb from its object.
Place a comma after “When” to isolate the subordinating word.
Place a comma after “we” to divide the subject from its verb.
Place a comma after “ends” to separate the introductory clause from the main clause.
7. Which exact words form the subordinate clause in “The book that Maya recommended became a bestseller”?
The book
became a bestseller
The book became
that Maya recommended
8. Which sentence uses standard word order in an embedded subordinate question?
I wonder where did Lena put the keys.
I wonder did Lena put the keys where.
I wonder where put Lena the keys.
I wonder where Lena put the keys.
9. Which definition best describes a subordinate clause?
A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot normally stand alone as a complete sentence
Any group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun
A complete sentence joined to another complete sentence by a coordinating conjunction
A group of words that modifies a noun but never contains a verb
10. In “What the witness remembered surprised everyone,” what role does the subordinate clause play?
It acts as the subject of the sentence.
It describes the noun “everyone.”
It joins two independent clauses.
It modifies the verb “surprised” by explaining when.
11. Which relative word correctly completes the sentence: “The cyclist ___ helmet was damaged walked away safely”?
which
whom
who
whose
12. A student writes, “Although the library was closing.” Why is this usually a sentence fragment?
It lacks both a subject and a verb.
It contains a coordinating conjunction instead of a verb.
The opening word makes the clause dependent, but no main clause completes the thought.
A sentence may not begin with “although.”
13. In “Nora lowered her voice so that the baby could sleep,” what does the subordinate clause express?
A contrast with Nora’s action
The time when Nora acted
The purpose of Nora’s action
A description identifying Nora
14. Which part of this sentence is a subordinate clause: “We canceled the picnic because the ground was soaked”?
We canceled
the picnic
because the ground was soaked
the ground
15. In “Only the employees who completed the training may use the equipment,” which punctuation choice preserves the meaning that the relative clause identifies a particular group of employees?
Add a comma after “training” because every relative clause needs closing punctuation.
Add a comma after “employees” but leave the end of the clause unmarked.
Use no commas around “who completed the training” because the clause restricts which employees are meant.
Enclose “who completed the training” in commas because it is optional information about all employees.
16. Which sentence contains a relative clause modifying “jacket”?
I bought the jacket because rain was forecast.
The jacket that I bought yesterday is waterproof.
What I bought was a waterproof jacket.
After I bought it, the jacket went on sale.