Use phrases and clauses to say it better

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   [Its sails snapping in the crosswind], the sloop heeled hard toward the buoy. Ari brackets the opening group in a sailing story. Which choice names the group and says what it tells about?

   • A relative clause: it describes the sloop and has its own subject, “sails,” and a verb.
   • A participial phrase: “snapping” describes the noun “the sloop” right after the comma.
   • An appositive: “Its sails snapping in the crosswind” is a noun phrase that renames “the sloop.”
   • An absolute phrase: “sails” stands before “snapping,” and the group tells about the whole clause.
2. 2.

   [1] The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar. [2] Her late husband taught at the school. Bo combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • The scholarship fund, whose late husband taught at the school, was created by Ms. Aguilar.
   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, whose late husband taught at the school.
   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, who late husband taught at the school.
   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, her late husband taught at the school.
3. 3.

   [Stranded by a sudden flood on the trail], the hikers waited on a ridge for rescue. Jun brackets the opening group in a news story. Which choice names the group and says what it tells about?

   • A participial phrase: “Stranded” has no noun of its own and describes “the hikers,” right after the comma.
   • An appositive: “Stranded by a sudden flood on the trail” is a noun phrase that renames “the hikers.”
   • A relative clause: it describes “the hikers,” as “who were stranded” would.
   • An absolute phrase: it tells about the whole clause, the hikers waiting on the ridge.
4. 4.

   [1] The class read a novel. [2] In the novel, the narrator never gives a name. Kira combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • The class read a novel in which the narrator seldom gives a name.
   • The class read a novel that the narrator never gives a name.
   • The class, in which the narrator never gives a name, read a novel.
   • The class read a novel in which the narrator never gives a name.
5. 5.

   To qualify for the finals, three more points were needed by the team. Luz edits a sports report. Which revision fixes the dangling opening phrase and keeps every detail?

   • To qualify for the finals, three more points were what the team needed.
   • To qualify for the finals, the team needed two more points.
   • To qualify for the finals. The team needed three more points.
   • To qualify for the finals, the team needed three more points.
6. 6.

   Dr. Imani Okoro, [a marine geologist who maps the ocean floor], led the lecture. Milo brackets a group in a school-newsletter sentence. Which choice names the bracketed group and says what it tells about?

   • A participial phrase: “a marine geologist” tells what the doctor does as she leads the lecture.
   • An absolute phrase: it tells about the whole clause, the lecture, and has its own noun.
   • A relative clause: it begins with “a marine geologist who” and describes Dr. Imani Okoro.
   • An appositive: it is a noun phrase built on “geologist” that renames Dr. Imani Okoro.
7. 7.

   [1] Ms. Torres teaches the glassblowing elective. [2] She has exhibited her work in three states. Noah combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • Ms. Torres, which has exhibited her work in three states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
   • Ms. Torres teaches the glassblowing elective, she has exhibited her work in three states.
   • Ms. Torres, who has exhibited her work in three states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
   • Ms. Torres, who has exhibited her work in four states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
8. 8.

   While cleaning out the old shed, a box of faded photographs was found by Mr. Abara. Pia edits a neighborhood-newsletter line. Which revision fixes the dangling opening clause and keeps every detail?

   • While cleaning out the old shed, Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
   • While cleaning out the old shed, there was a box of faded photographs found by Mr. Abara.
   • While cleaning out the old garage, Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
   • While cleaning out the old shed. Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
9. 9.

   The ferry, [which the harbor board had repaired twice that year], still leaked. Ren brackets a group in a harbor-news sentence. Which choice names the bracketed group and says what it tells about?

   • An appositive: it is a noun phrase that renames “the ferry.”
   • A participial phrase: “repaired” describes “the ferry” and has no noun of its own.
   • An absolute phrase: it has its own subject, “the harbor board,” and tells about the whole clause.
   • A relative clause: it begins with “which,” has its own subject and verb, and describes “the ferry.”
10. 10.

    [1] Kelp is a fast-growing seaweed. [2] Kelp forms underwater forests along the coast. Tala combines two sentences with an appositive. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

    • Kelp is a fast-growing seaweed, it forms underwater forests along the coast.
    • Kelp forms underwater forests, a fast-growing seaweed, along the coast.
    • Kelp, a slow-growing seaweed, forms underwater forests along the coast.
    • Kelp, a fast-growing seaweed, forms underwater forests along the coast.