Clauses at the Mall Worksheet | Sentence Structure Activity - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We’ll find the subjects and predicates, then count how many clauses are in each sentence.

Remember:
- A clause has a subject + predicate (verb).
- If there’s a comma or word like “but,” “when,” “because,” etc., it might separate two clauses.
- Sometimes sentences have more than one clause joined together.

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1. My sister and I were at my grandma's house when the phone rang.

- Clause 1: My sister and I / were at my grandma's house → subject: "My sister and I", predicate: "were"
- Clause 2: the phone / rang → subject: "the phone", predicate: "rang"
- Word “when” connects them → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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2. We were watching TV on the couch, the old brown one, and eating sandwiches.

- Only one subject: “We”
- Two verbs? “were watching” and “eating” — but they’re both done by “We” → still ONE clause
- “the old brown one” is just extra info about the couch — not a new clause

✔ # of Clauses: 1

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3. It was Jan, my sister's friend, and she wanted to talk to my sister.

- Clause 1: It / was Jan → subject: “It”, predicate: “was”
- Clause 2: she / wanted to talk → subject: “she”, predicate: “wanted”
- Connected by “and” → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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4. I said, "I'll go get her, Jan," and then I went to get her.

- Clause 1: I / said → subject: “I”, predicate: “said”
- Inside quotes: “I’ll go get her” → that’s another clause! Subject: “I”, predicate: “will go get”
- Then: “I went to get her” → subject: “I”, predicate: “went”
- So total: 3 clauses? Wait — let’s check:

Actually, the quoted part is embedded inside the first clause. But grammatically, “I said [something]” — the something can be its own clause.

Let’s break it down:

- Main clause: I said...
- Quoted clause: I’ll go get her → this is a full clause
- Then: and then I went to get her → another clause

So yes — 3 clauses total.

✔ # of Clauses: 3

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5. Jan told my sister that the new super group, the Dance Boys, was at the mall.

- Clause 1: Jan / told → subject: “Jan”, predicate: “told”
- Clause 2: the new super group... / was → subject: “the new super group”, predicate: “was”
- “that” introduces the second clause → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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6. My sister almost fainted because she's the biggest fan of the Dance Boys.

- Clause 1: My sister / fainted → subject: “My sister”, predicate: “fainted”
- Clause 2: she / is → subject: “she”, predicate: “is” (contracted as “she’s”)
- “because” connects them → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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7. "I love the Dance Boys," she said excitedly.

- Clause 1: I / love → subject: “I”, predicate: “love” (inside quotes)
- Clause 2: she / said → subject: “she”, predicate: “said”
- Even though the quote comes first, it’s still two clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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8. Jan, my sister, and I all hopped on the bus to the mall to see the Dance Boys.

- One subject: “Jan, my sister, and I”
- One verb: “hopped”
- The rest (“to the mall to see...”) are phrases, not clauses — no new subject+verb

✔ # of Clauses: 1

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9. I'm not really a fan of the Dance Boys, but I like to go to the mall, so I went.

- Clause 1: I / am → subject: “I”, predicate: “am” (contracted as “I’m”)
- Clause 2: I / like → subject: “I”, predicate: “like”
- Clause 3: I / went → subject: “I”, predicate: “went”
- Connected by “but” and “so” → 3 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 3

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10. When we got there, the mall was packed with Dance Boy fans.

- Clause 1: we / got → subject: “we”, predicate: “got” (after “When”)
- Clause 2: the mall / was packed → subject: “the mall”, predicate: “was packed”
- “When” starts the first clause → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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11. Everyone wore Dance Boy shirts except me because I hate the Dance Boys.

- Clause 1: Everyone / wore → subject: “Everyone”, predicate: “wore”
- Clause 2: I / hate → subject: “I”, predicate: “hate”
- “because” connects them → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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12. While the Dance Boys sang, Jan danced, but I played games on my cell phone.

- Clause 1: the Dance Boys / sang → subject: “the Dance Boys”, predicate: “sang” (after “While”)
- Clause 2: Jan / danced → subject: “Jan”, predicate: “danced”
- Clause 3: I / played → subject: “I”, predicate: “played”
- Connected by commas and “but” → 3 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 3

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13. I challenged one of the Dance Boys to a dance battle but he was scared.

- Clause 1: I / challenged → subject: “I”, predicate: “challenged”
- Clause 2: he / was → subject: “he”, predicate: “was”
- Connected by “but” → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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14. Since we went to the mall, I've been working on my moves, but I'm still bad.

- Clause 1: we / went → subject: “we”, predicate: “went” (after “Since”)
- Clause 2: I / have been working → subject: “I”, predicate: “have been working” (contracted as “I’ve”)
- Clause 3: I / am → subject: “I”, predicate: “am” (contracted as “I’m”)
- Connected by “since” and “but” → 3 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 3

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15. If Jan, my sister, and I go to the mall again, I'll surely walk around and shop.

- Clause 1: Jan, my sister, and I / go → subject: “Jan, my sister, and I”, predicate: “go” (after “If”)
- Clause 2: I / will walk → subject: “I”, predicate: “will walk” (contracted as “I’ll”)
- “If” starts the first clause → 2 clauses

✔ # of Clauses: 2

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Final Answer:

1. 2
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 2
6. 2
7. 2
8. 1
9. 3
10. 2
11. 2
12. 3
13. 2
14. 3
15. 2