EnglishYear 8

Year 8 Writing – Sentence Boundaries 1

Practise fixing run-ons, comma splices and fragments with conjunctions and subordinate clauses, choosing the fix that keeps the writer's meaning. 12 questions. 20 minutes.

Draft A: A storm on a school camp

(1) Our school camp was meant to be relaxing, but the weather had other plans. (2) By lunchtime the sky had turned dark grey the wind was bending the gum trees. (3) Mr Okafor told us to leave the oval, we ran towards the hall. (4) We felt safe inside the hall. (5) Although the roof rattled loudly.

(6) When the lights flickered the youngest campers started to cry. (7) Our teacher handed out torches. (8) Mia started a singing game. (9) Soon the whole hall was joining in. (10) Everyone pretended to be brave the singing grew louder than the storm. (11) Mr Okafor tripped over a tent peg in the dark. (12) Which made everyone laugh.

(13) The storm was fierce, however it passed in an hour. (14) We slept in the hall, the tents were soaked. (15) By morning the rain had stopped, steam rose from the wet grass. (16) We spent the last hour sweeping mud from the tents. (17) After we packed up the bus took us home. (18) Everyone agreed it was the best camp ever.

Which change to Sentence 3 keeps the writer's meaning?

Mr Okafor told us to leave the oval, because we ran towards the hall.Mr Okafor told us to leave the oval; so we ran towards the hall.Mr Okafor told us to leave the oval, so we ran towards the hall.Mr Okafor told us to leave the oval we ran towards the hall.

How should Sentence 2 be rewritten to fix the boundary?

By lunchtime the sky had turned dark grey, and the wind was bending the gum trees.By lunchtime the sky had turned dark grey, the wind was bending the gum trees.By lunchtime the sky had turned dark grey; and the wind was bending the gum trees.By lunchtime the sky had turned dark grey. Because the wind was bending the gum trees.

Circle 1 word in the sentence below.

Click the word after which a comma is needed.

Whenthelightsflickeredtheyoungestcampersstartedtocry.Ourteacherhandedouttorches.

Which option is the best version of Sentence 1?

Our school camp was meant to be relaxing; but the weather had other plans.Our school camp was meant to be relaxing, the weather had other plans.Our school camp was meant to be relaxing, so the weather had other plans.No change

Choose the words that best join the two thoughts in Sentence 14.

We slept in the hall₁ the tents were soaked.

Blank 1: , so · because · ; because · , although

Which option best combines Sentence 4 and Sentence 5?

We felt safe inside the hall although the roof rattled loudly.We felt safe inside the hall; although the roof rattled loudly.We felt safe inside the hall, the roof rattled loudly.We felt safe inside the hall because the roof rattled loudly.

Circle 1 word in the sentence below.

Click the first word of the part that is cut off from the sentence it belongs to.

MrOkafortrippedoveratentpeginthedark.Whichmadeeveryonelaugh.

Which version of Sentence 17 uses a comma correctly?

After we packed, up the bus took us home.After we packed up; the bus took us home.After we packed up. The bus took us home.After we packed up, the bus took us home.

Which revision of Sentence 15 keeps the writer's meaning?

By morning the rain had stopped; and steam rose from the wet grass.By morning the rain had stopped, and steam rose from the wet grass.No changeBy morning the rain had stopped. Because steam rose from the wet grass.

10.

Choose the word that best joins the two thoughts in Sentence 10.

Everyone pretended to be brave₁ the singing grew louder than the storm.

Blank 1: or · unless · while · ; because

11.

Which revision of Sentence 13 best repairs the boundary?

No changeThe storm was fierce, however, it passed in an hour.The storm was fierce; however, it passed in an hour.The storm was fierce; however, it passed; in an hour.

12.

Circle 1 word in the sentence below.

Click the word after which a new sentence should begin.

Soonthewholehallwasjoiningin.Everyonepretendedtobebravethesinginggrewlouderthanthestorm.

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Year 8 Writing – Sentence Boundaries 1

Draft A: A storm on a school camp