Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: "The Sentence" Answer Key
Answer key for The Sentence activity.
Practice – Subjects/Verbs
For each of the sentences below, identify the subject and the verb, and indicate what
kind of verb is used (action, linking, compound, or phrase).
1. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street.
Subject = I, Verb = was, Type of Verb Used = linking
2. I fear that I bore you with these details.
Subject = I, Verb = fear, Type of Verb Used = action
3. He appeared to be in a great hurry.
Subject = He, Verb = appeared, Type of Verb Used = action
4. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the principal room.
Subject = he, Verb = was borne and laid out, Type of Verb used = compound and phrase
5. Holmes had sat up upon the couch.
Subject = Holmes, Verb = had sat, Type of Verb Used = phrase
6. We are but preventing her from injuring another.
Subject = We, Verb = are preventing, Type of Verb Used = phrase
7. A maid rushed across and threw open the window.
Subject = maid, Verb = rushed and threw, Type of Verb Used = compound
8. Thick clouds of smoke curled through the room.
Subject = clouds of smoke, Verb = curled, Type of Verb Used = action
9. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes.
Subject = He, Verb = walked, Type of Verb Used = action
10. Now it was clear to me that our lady of today had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of.
Subject = it, Verb = was clear, Type of Verb Used = phrase
Practice – Complete Thought
Add your own words to each subordinate clause to make it an independent clause (a complete sentence). Hint: first identify the subject and the verb.
Example: Once Amy (s) caught (v) the spider she was able to go to sleep.
Answers will vary.
1. The smoke was enough
2. The coachman had
3. Because of the hasty retreat he felt
4. He bowed, and turned away without
5. And that was how a great scandal threatened
Practice – Punctuation
Fill in each blank with the correct punctuation: a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point.
"You are sure that she has not sent it yet?"
"I am sure."
"And why?"
"Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed, that will be next Monday."
"Oh, then we have three days yet!" exclaimed Holmes.