Subordinate clauses

Spot the part of a sentence that cannot stand on its own, often starting with words like because, when, if or although.

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Which part of 'She smiled because she was happy' is the subordinate clause? A) She smiled B) because she was happy C) smiled because D) she was
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2
True or false: 'When the bell rang' is a complete sentence on its own. 'When the bell rang' is a complete sentence on its own. A) True B) False
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3
True or false: A subordinate clause can make sense on its own without a main clause. A subordinate clause can make sense on its own without a main clause. A) True B) False
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4
Which is a subordinate clause? A) I went home. B) because it was raining C) She is happy. D) The dog barked.
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5
Which word is a subordinating conjunction? A) and B) but C) although D) or
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6
Build a sentence: I went home (main clause) + because it was raining (subordinate clause). Arrange these words: because, raining, I, went, home, it, was
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7
Which sentence contains a subordinate clause? A) I like apples and pears. B) She sang and danced. C) We stayed inside because it was cold. D) He ran fast.
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8
Place the subordinate clause first: 'when the rain stopped' + 'we went outside'. Arrange these words: When, we, outside, stopped,, the, went, rain
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9
In 'Although it was cold, we went swimming', which is the subordinate clause? A) we went swimming B) Although it was cold C) it was D) went swimming
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10
What punctuation is missing? 'When the rain stopped we went outside.' A) full stop B) semicolon C) comma D) exclamation
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Answer key

Subordinate clauses · for parents and teachers

1
because she was happy
'Because she was happy' is the subordinate clause. It does not make sense on its own.
2
False
False. 'When the bell rang' is a subordinate clause and needs a main clause to make sense.
3
False
False. A subordinate clause needs a main clause to make complete sense.
4
because it was raining
'Because it was raining' depends on a main clause - it cannot stand alone.
5
although
'Although' is a subordinating conjunction. 'And', 'but' and 'or' are coordinating conjunctions.
6
I went home because it was raining
'I went home because it was raining.' The main clause is 'I went home' and the subordinate clause is 'because it was raining'.
7
We stayed inside because it was cold.
'Because it was cold' is a subordinate clause that depends on the main clause 'We stayed inside'.
8
When the rain stopped, we went outside
'When the rain stopped, we went outside.' The subordinate clause comes first, followed by a comma.
9
Although it was cold
'Although it was cold' starts with 'although' and cannot stand alone, so it is the subordinate clause.
10
comma
After 'When the rain stopped' (subordinate clause), add a comma.