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Grammar and Sentence Variety Practice Tests

These Grade 8 English Language Arts practice tests cover subjects and predicates, independent and dependent clauses, simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences, fragments, run-ons, punctuation, agreement, modifiers, parallel structure, and clear revision.

Skills covered

  • Identifying clauses and sentence structures
  • Correcting fragments, run-ons, comma splices, and punctuation errors
  • Checking subject-verb agreement, verb tense, voice, modifiers, and parallel structure
  • Combining sentences with coordination and subordination
  • Improving clarity, concision, rhythm, and sentence variety

How to use these practice tests

First locate the subjects and verbs. Then identify independent and dependent clauses, check how ideas are joined, and review punctuation. Finally choose revisions that improve both correctness and the flow of the paragraph.

For more Grade 8 English Language Arts practice, return to the Grade 8 English Language Arts category.

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2. Test

Grade 8 Grammar and Sentence Variety Practice Tests

Practice Grade 8 English Language Arts questions about clauses, sentence types, fragments, run-ons, punctuation, agreement, modifiers, parallelism, and sentence variety.

Choose the best answer for each question. Identify sentence structure, correct grammar and punctuation, and select revisions that improve clarity and variety.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

Which revision correctly joins the two independent clauses "The museum opened" and "visitors entered"?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The museum opened, and visitors entered..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

A comma and the coordinating conjunction and correctly join the two independent clauses.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence correctly uses because to show a cause?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Because the road was icy, the bus arrived late..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

The dependent clause comes first and is followed by a comma before the independent clause.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence is compound-complex?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is While the chef prepared dinner, the children set the table, and the guests arranged the chairs..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

The sentence includes one dependent clause and two independent clauses.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Which revision correctly joins two closely related independent clauses with a semicolon?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The library closed early; the storm threatened the roads..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

A semicolon can join two related independent clauses when no coordinating conjunction is used.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which revision fixes the comma splice in "The bell rang, the students left"?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The bell rang, so the students left..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

The coordinating conjunction so correctly connects the two independent clauses and shows the result.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Why might a writer vary sentence openings?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Different openings can improve rhythm, emphasis, and the flow of ideas..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

Varying openings prevents repetitive rhythm and helps the writer emphasize relationships among ideas.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence begins with a prepositional phrase to create variety?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Across the quiet courtyard, the students gathered..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

Across the quiet courtyard is a prepositional phrase placed at the beginning to vary the sentence opening.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence uses an appositive correctly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Maya, the team captain, organized the equipment..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

The appositive the team captain renames Maya and is correctly set off by commas.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence begins with a participial phrase?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Running through the rain, the athletes reached the shelter..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

Running through the rain is a participial phrase that describes the athletes and introduces the sentence.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence begins with an infinitive phrase?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is To finish before sunset, the hikers shortened their rest..

  1. Find the sentence structure: Locate subjects, verbs, independent clauses, dependent clauses, phrases, and the relationships between ideas.
  2. Check grammar and punctuation: Test agreement, verb tense, modifier placement, conjunctions, commas, and semicolons.
  3. Improve the style: Choose the clearest revision and consider how sentence length, openings, and structures create variety.

To finish before sunset is an infinitive phrase that explains the purpose of the action.

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