Sentence Structure Practice Exercises 1

Sentence Structure Practice Exercises

For sentence structure concept help, review the following study guide:

Sentence Structure Study Guide

Practice Set 1

Fill in the blank with the word that creates the most logical sentence. (Hint: Use a dictionary to determine which words best complete the sentence's meaning.)

1. Bonnie did not go to her class reunion; ______ was simply not in the mood.
   1. but she
   2. whenever she
   3. although she
   4. she
2. Lila wasn't feeling well. ______, she decided to stay home from work.
   1. Therefore
   2. Meanwhile
   3. However
   4. Anyway
3. Dave loved to go fishing, ______ this time he was not enjoying himself.
   1. when
   2. but
   3. so
   4. because
4. Ruby loves blueberry pie ______ it is made with freshly picked blueberries.
   1. whether
   2. because
   3. when
   4. as if
5. Mitchell loves listening to jazz and rhythm and blues. Greg, ______, will only listen to country.
   1. however
   2. then
   3. too
   4. therefore
6. Please close the windows, ______ we have the heat on.
   1. but
   2. however
   3. therefore
   4. since
7. The ticket said that the show would start at 8:00, but the curtains didn't go up ______ 8:30.
   1. less than
   2. until
   3. about
   4. since
8. My neighbor is deathly afraid of dogs; ______, I never let my Golden Retriever, Sandy, outside without a leash.
   1. moreover
   2. yet
   3. mainly
   4. consequently
9. The wedding quilt was designed as a sentimental way to make use of fabric taken ______ blankets and bedding that belonged to older couples in her family.
   1. from
   2. with
   3. in
   4. at
10. Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, ______ appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
    1. she
    2. and
    3. but
    4. was
11. I ______ the speech you gave last Thursday night, but I was in bed with the flu.
    1. will have heard
    2. would hear
    3. might hear
    4. would have heard
12. ______ the Beatles' most popular songs—most of which were written by Lennon and McCartney—are "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Hey Jude."
    1. With
    2. Considering
    3. Among
    4. To

Practice Set 2

Choose the sentence that best combines the underlined sentences.

13. The airport is called the Glynco Jetport. The airline reservations and travel systems refer to its location as Brunswick, Georgia.
    1. Where the airport is called the Glynco Jetport, the airline reservations and travel systems refer to the location as Brunswick, Georgia.
    2. But the airport is called the Glynco Jetport, the airline reservations and travel systems refer to the location as Brunswick, Georgia.
    3. Even though the airline reservations and travel systems refer to the location as Brunswick, Georgia, the airport is called the Glynco Jetport.
    4. When the airport is called the Glynco Jetport, the airline reservations refer to the location as Brunswick, Georgia, and the travel systems.
14. Plato believed that boys and girls should be given an equal education. This idea is rarely mentioned in textbooks.
    1. Plato believed that boys and girls should be given an equal education, where this idea is rarely mentioned in textbooks.
    2. Plato believed that boys and girls should be given an equal education, an idea that is rarely mentioned in textbooks.
    3. Believing that boys and girls should be given an equal education, Plato's idea is rarely mentioned in textbooks.
    4. Plato believed that boys and girls should be given an equal education, whereupon this idea is rarely mentioned in textbooks.
15. Recently there have been government cutbacks in funds. Experts foresee steady hiring in the government's future.
    1. Despite recent government cutbacks in funds, experts foresee steady hiring in the government's future.
    2. Whereupon recent government cutbacks in funds, experts foresee steady hiring in the government's future.
    3. So that there have been recent government cutbacks in funds, experts foresee steady hiring in the government's future.
    4. Nonetheless, there have been recent government cutbacks in funds, experts foresee steady hiring in the government's future.
16. The federal government has a diverse number of jobs and geographic locations. The federal government offers flexibility in job opportunities that is unmatched in the private sector.
    1. In spite of its diversity of jobs and geographic locations, the federal government offers flexibility in job opportunities that is unmatched in the private sector.
    2. No matter its diversity of jobs and geographic locations, the federal government offers flexibility in job opportunities that is unmatched in the private sector.
    3. Because of its diversity of jobs and geographic locations, the federal government offers flexibility in job opportunities that is unmatched in the private sector.
    4. The federal government has a diverse number of jobs and geographic locations, so it offers flexibility in job opportunities that is unmatched in the private sector.
17. The Greeks thought that the halcyon, or kingfisher, nested on the sea. All birds nest on land.
    1. Whereupon all birds nest on land, the Greeks thought that the halcyon, or kingfisher, nested on the sea.
    2. The Greeks thought that the halcyon, or kingfisher, nested on the sea, whereas all birds nest on land.
    3. Whenever all birds nest on land, the Greeks thought that the halcyon, or kingfisher, nested on the sea.
    4. The Greeks thought that the halcyon, or kingfisher, nested on the sea, as all birds nest on land.
18. My cat loves to sleep in the sun. She sleeps on the radiator when it's cloudy.
    1. Because it's cloudy, my cat sleeps in the sun or on the radiator.
    2. My cat loves to sleep in the sun, and she sleeps on the radiator when it's cloudy.
    3. My cat loves to sleep in the sun because, when it's cloudy, she sleeps on the radiator.
    4. When it's cloudy, my cat sleeps on the radiator; when it's sunny, she sleeps in the sun.
19. The president spoke at great length. I still don't understand his policies.
    1. Although I don't understand his policies, the president spoke at great length.
    2. At great length the president spoke; understand his policies I do not.
    3. The president spoke at great length, yet I still don't understand his policies.
    4. The president spoke at great length, therefore I still don't understand his policies.
20. The wisdom of the hedgehog is applauded in medieval bestiaries. The hedgehog builds a nest with two exits and, when in danger, rolls itself into a prickly ball.
    1. The wisdom of the hedgehog is applauded in medieval bestiaries, while the hedgehog builds a nest with two exits and, when in danger, rolls itself into a prickly ball.
    2. The hedgehog builds a nest with two exits and, when in danger, rolls itself into a prickly ball, so its wisdom is applauded in medieval bestiaries.
    3. The hedgehog builds a nest with two exits and, when in danger, rolls itself into a prickly ball, but its wisdom is applauded in medieval bestiaries.
    4. Its wisdom applauded in medieval bestiaries, the hedgehog builds a nest with two exits and, when in danger, rolls itself into a prickly ball
21. I just bought a new car. My old one died.
    1. I just bought a new car, although my old one died.
    2. While I just bought a new car, my old one died.
    3. Because I just bought a new car, my old one died.
    4. I just bought a new car because my old one died.
22. Most species of the bacterium Streptococcus are harmless. Some species of Streptococcus are dangerous pathogens.
    1. Whereas most species of the bacterium Streptococcus are harmless, some are dangerous pathogens.
    2. Since most species of the bacterium Streptococcus are harmless, some are dangerous pathogens.
    3. As most species of the bacterium Streptococcus are harmless, some are dangerous pathogens.
    4. Because most species of the bacterium Streptococcus are harmless, some are dangerous pathogens.
23. The man nodded politely. His expression was bewildered.
    1. Nodding politely, the man's expression was bewildered.
    2. The man nodded politely his expression was bewildered.
    3. The man nodded politely, his expression bewildered.
    4. The man nodded politely, since his expression was bewildered