This worksheet helps students practice identifying and constructing complex sentences using conjunctions.

Let’s solve this step by step.

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Part 1: Complete each sentence with a conjunction from the box. Underline the subordinate clause.

Conjunctions given:
unless, when, if, until, because, before

We need to pick the best word that makes sense in each sentence and then underline the part that is the *subordinate clause* (the part that doesn’t make full sense on its own).

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a) I saw a lion ______ I went to the zoo.

→ When did you see the lion? Probably when you went to the zoo.
So: “I saw a lion when I went to the zoo.”
Subordinate clause: when I went to the zoo

✔ Answer: when → underline “when I went to the zoo”

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b) I eat lots of fruit ______ it is healthy.

→ Why do you eat fruit? Because it’s healthy.
So: “I eat lots of fruit because it is healthy.”
Subordinate clause: because it is healthy

✔ Answer: because → underline “because it is healthy”

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c) I finished my work ______ the bell rang.

→ Did you finish before or after the bell? Usually, you finish before the bell rings.
So: “I finished my work before the bell rang.”
Subordinate clause: before the bell rang

✔ Answer: before → underline “before the bell rang”

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d) They played outside ______ it got dark.

→ How long did they play? Until it got dark.
So: “They played outside until it got dark.”
Subordinate clause: until it got dark

✔ Answer: until → underline “until it got dark”

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e) They will make the finals ______ they keep winning games.

→ What condition must happen for them to make the finals? If they keep winning.
So: “They will make the finals if they keep winning games.”
Subordinate clause: if they keep winning games

✔ Answer: if → underline “if they keep winning games”

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f) They won’t let you in ______ you have a ticket.

→ You can only come in if you have a ticket — so without one, you’re not allowed. That means: unless you have a ticket.
So: “They won’t let you in unless you have a ticket.”
Subordinate clause: unless you have a ticket

✔ Answer: unless → underline “unless you have a ticket”

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Part 2: Draw lines to match main and subordinate clauses. Circle the conjunctions.

Main clauses:
a) We ordered dessert
b) The baby is crying
c) I eat my breakfast
d) I walked to school
e) I make myself a snack

Subordinate clauses:
- before I brush my teeth.
- although it was raining.
- after we had eaten the main course.
- whenever I get hungry.
- because it is hungry. ← Wait! This says “it is hungry” but should probably be “he/she is hungry”? But we’ll go with what’s written.

Now match logically:

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a) We ordered dessert → happens after eating main course? Yes.
→ Match with: after we had eaten the main course.
Conjunction: after → circle it

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b) The baby is crying → why? Maybe because it is hungry (even though “it” sounds odd for a baby, we’ll use it as written).
→ Match with: because it is hungry.
Conjunction: because → circle it

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c) I eat my breakfast → when? Maybe before I brush my teeth? Or whenever I get hungry? Breakfast is usually first thing — maybe before brushing teeth fits better.
Wait — actually, “I eat my breakfast” could also go with “whenever I get hungry”, but breakfast is routine. Let’s think again.

Actually, look at e: “I make myself a snack” — that’s more likely “whenever I get hungry”.

So c: “I eat my breakfast” → probably before I brush my teeth (morning routine)

But wait — let’s check all:

Better matching:

- c) I eat my breakfast → before I brush my teeth ✔ (common morning order)
- e) I make myself a snack → whenever I get hungry ✔ (snacks are spontaneous)
- d) I walked to school → although it was raining ✔ (shows contrast — you still walked even though rain)
- a) We ordered dessert → after we had eaten the main course ✔ (dessert comes after main)
- b) The baby is crying → because it is hungry ✔ (reason for crying)

Perfect!

Now circle the conjunctions in the matched pairs:

- after → in “after we had eaten...”
- because → in “because it is hungry”
- before → in “before I brush my teeth”
- although → in “although it was raining”
- whenever → in “whenever I get hungry”

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Final Answers:

Part 1:

a) when → underline “when I went to the zoo”
b) because → underline “because it is healthy”
c) before → underline “before the bell rang”
d) until → underline “until it got dark”
e) if → underline “if they keep winning games”
f) unless → underline “unless you have a ticket”

Part 2 Matches:

a) We ordered dessert — after we had eaten the main course. → circle after
b) The baby is crying — because it is hungry. → circle because
c) I eat my breakfast — before I brush my teeth. → circle before
d) I walked to school — although it was raining. → circle although
e) I make myself a snack — whenever I get hungry. → circle whenever

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Final Answer:

Part 1:
a) when — underline "when I went to the zoo"
b) because — underline "because it is healthy"
c) before — underline "before the bell rang"
d) until — underline "until it got dark"
e) if — underline "if they keep winning games"
f) unless — underline "unless you have a ticket"

Part 2:
a) We ordered dessert — after we had eaten the main course. → circle "after"
b) The baby is crying — because it is hungry. → circle "because"
c) I eat my breakfast — before I brush my teeth. → circle "before"
d) I walked to school — although it was raining. → circle "although"
e) I make myself a snack — whenever I get hungry. → circle "whenever"