Grade 9 Grammar – Sentences - Subject, Predicates

Every sentence has two main parts: The __________ tells who or what the sentence is about. The
__________ tells the action or condition of the subject.

A. Draw a line between the subjects and predicates in the following sentences.

1. Bees fly.

2. A talented artist drew the cartoon.

3. We have enjoyed the holiday.

4. These cookies are made with rice.

5. They rent a cabin in the Rockies every July.

B. Add subjects or predicates to the following phrases to make them complete sentences.

1. All the students

2. blew furiously

3. My mother's truck

4. is a large lake in Ontario

5. came to my house by delivery truck

Subject/Verb Agreement – Singular subjects require singular verbs. Plural subjects require
plural verbs. Collective nouns usually require singular verbs.

C. Underline the Subjects and Verbs in the following sentences. Identify them as either
singular, plural or collective. Correct the sentences where the subjects and verbs do
not agree.

1. The team play soccer every Thursday night.

2. A friend of those people is no friend of mine.

3. The picture of those mountains is beautiful.

4. A group of teenagers are making a presentation.

5. The girls likes dancing.

Grade 9 Grammar – Clauses – Independent and Subordinate; Sentence Problems

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a _________________ . There are two
kinds of clauses: independent and subordinate (dependent). An independent clause can
stand alone as a ________________ because it expresses a complete thought. A
subordinate clause has a subject and predicate, but cannot stand alone. It must be combined
with an independent clause to make a sentence. Subordinate clauses begin with connecting
words such as subordinate conjunctions or relative pronouns.

A. Make a list of subordinate conjunctions and relative pronouns that may be used to
combine subordinate clauses to independent clauses to make sentences.

B. Underline the independent clauses and circle the subordinate clauses below.

1. We arrived early because we took a taxi.

2. Canada is a country where many cultures live together.

3. Since you left, she has been very lonely.

4. I saw the actor who starred in “The Avatar.”

5. The rat is an animal that many people fear.

C. Put 'I' in front of the independent clauses and 'S' in front of the subordinate clauses.

1. ________ Jeremy received free tickets to the Sens game

2. ________ because he works in the Olympic Stadium ticket office

3. ________ Mozart was a musical genious

4. ________ who died young

5. _______ when they came to the exit on the highway

6. ________ the Morgans took the wrong turn

D. Add an independent clause to each subordinate clause above to make a complete
sentence.

Problems With Sentences – Fragments, Run-ons, Tense Shift

A sentence fragment is a phrase or clause that may look like a sentence but does not express a
complete thought. It is usually missing either a subject or a verb. To correct a sentence
fragment, add _____________________ .
A run-on sentence puts two or more independent clauses together and punctuates them as one
sentence. There are 3 ways to correct a run-on sentence: either (1) punctuate each
independent clause as a sentence with a period or semi-colon; (2) use a coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS); (3) use a connecting word (subordinate conjunction, relative
pronoun) to subordinate one of the independent clauses (the one that is less important).
A tense shift problem occurs when the verb tense in a sentence changes from past to present or
future without a time change – or vice versa.

E. Identify the fragments in the following paragraph. Then, rewrite the paragraph using
complete sentences.

Fall. My favourite season of the year. In fall, I can do a lot of my favourite things. Hike, play touch
football, watch the baseball playoffs. During fall in Gander, there are special events. Fall fairs,
cross-country runs, barn dances. Just drive in the country. You'll see a panorama of colours.
Reds, brown, oranges, brilliant yellows. Reflecting off the water. What a sight.

F. Place an 'X' in front of the run-on sentences below. Correct the run-ons.

1. _______ With a mighty blow I swung the bat the ball sailed out of the park.

2. _______ The prime minister spoke at great length on the radio.

3. _______ Our relatives from Winnipeg arrived in the middle of a storm.

4. _______ The ice has melted it's spring at last.

5. _______ I bought two sweaters one has to be returned.

6. _______ It's too early to get up let me sleep longer.

7. _______ The magazine sells for five dollars in Canada it costs three dollars in the U.S.