Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is an example of a complete sentence?

1. A phrase without a subject

2. A clause with an independent clause

3. A clause that includes a dependent clause

4. A sentence fragment

The correct answer is: A clause with an independent clause

A complete sentence is defined as a group of words that expresses a complete thought and contains at least a subject and a verb. A clause that includes an independent clause fulfills these criteria because it can stand alone as a meaningful statement. An independent clause includes a subject and a verb, making it capable of conveying a full idea. In contrast, a phrase without a subject does not form a complete thought, since it lacks a subject and may not contain a verb. A clause that includes a dependent clause also does not form a complete thought on its own, as dependent clauses cannot stand alone and require an independent clause to provide context. Lastly, a sentence fragment is, by definition, incomplete and does not convey a full idea. Thus, a clause with an independent clause is the only valid example of a complete sentence among the provided options.