Phrases and clauses and what they do

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Four word groups from the newsletter; only one has a subject paired with its verb. Ari is sorting word groups from the school newsletter. Which group of words is a clause?

   • across the empty parking lot
   • the crossing guard waved
   • waving at the bus driver
   • the tall crossing guard
2. 2.

   Four word groups from the flyer; only one has a subject paired with its verb. Bo is sorting word groups from a pet-club flyer. Which group of words is a clause?

   • the playful puppy next door
   • behind the garden shed
   • to fetch the stick
   • the puppy tumbled
3. 3.

   Four word groups from the story; only one has a subject paired with its verb. Esme is sorting word groups from a beach-day story. Which group of words is a clause?

   • near the old windmill
   • the kite string snapped
   • flying above the trees
   • a red paper kite
4. 4.

   Four word groups from the notice; only one has a subject paired with its verb. Jun is sorting word groups from a hallway notice. Which group of words is a clause?

   • to cross the busy hall
   • ringing for the next class
   • because the bell rang
   • the hall monitor
5. 5.

   The twins stacked the chairs after the assembly ended. Kira is bracketing the dependent clause in a sentence. Which version brackets the whole dependent clause?

   • [The twins stacked the chairs] after the assembly ended.
   • The twins stacked the chairs after [the assembly ended].
   • The twins stacked the chairs [after the assembly ended].
   • The twins [stacked the chairs after the assembly ended].
6. 6.

   The cat napped under the old porch swing. Luz is bracketing a phrase in a sentence. Which version brackets the whole phrase that begins with “under”?

   • The cat [napped under the old porch swing].
   • The cat napped under [the old porch swing].
   • The cat napped [under the old porch swing].
   • [The cat napped] under the old porch swing.
7. 7.

   Laughing at the joke, the audience clapped. Milo is bracketing a phrase in a sentence. Which version brackets the whole phrase that begins with “Laughing”?

   • Laughing at the joke, [the audience clapped].
   • [Laughing] at the joke, the audience clapped.
   • [Laughing at the joke], the audience clapped.
   • [Laughing at the joke, the audience] clapped.
8. 8.

   The marching band turned [onto Maple Street]. Pia draws an arrow from the bracketed group to the word it tells about. Which word gets the arrow?

   • marching
   • band
   • Street
   • turned
9. 9.

   The tall drummer [in the red hat] waved. Ren draws an arrow from the bracketed group to the word it tells about. Which word gets the arrow?

   • red
   • waved
   • hat
   • drummer
10. 10.

    The baker iced the cake [that had three layers]. Zee draws an arrow from the bracketed group to the word it tells about. Which word gets the arrow?

    • layers
    • iced
    • cake
    • baker