Grammar worksheet designed to help students identify and understand the difference between independent and subordinate clauses in complex sentences.
Complex sentences grammar worksheet with definitions and exercises for students to underline subordinate clauses.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Complex Sentence Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Complex Sentence Worksheets
It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled "Complex Sentences" from www.EasyTeacherWorksheets.com, which focuses on identifying and understanding complex sentences.
Let me walk you through the task and solve it step by step, as if I were explaining it to a student.
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The worksheet defines:
- Independent Clause: A clause that can stand alone as a sentence (e.g., "I went to school").
- Dependent Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone (e.g., "because it was raining").
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
The task is to:
1. Underline the independent clause in each sentence.
2. Circle the dependent clause.
3. Identify the subordinating conjunction (the word that connects the clauses).
---
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#### 1. Without a flashlight, I couldn’t see the crystal cave.
- Independent clause: *I couldn’t see the crystal cave.*
→ This can stand alone.
- Dependent clause: *Without a flashlight*
→ This is a prepositional phrase, but it’s not a full clause. Wait — this isn't a proper dependent clause with a subject and verb.
Wait! Actually, "Without a flashlight" is not a clause; it's a prepositional phrase. So this sentence might be a fragment or simple sentence.
But let's reconsider: Is there a subordinating conjunction? No.
This sentence may be incorrectly structured or possibly meant to be interpreted differently.
But looking closely:
- The main idea is “I couldn’t see the crystal cave” — that’s the independent clause.
- “Without a flashlight” is an adverbial phrase modifying the verb.
👉 So this is actually a simple sentence with an adverbial phrase, not a complex sentence.
But the worksheet says "identify the complex sentence", so perhaps this one is not complex?
Wait — maybe the worksheet has a typo or mislabeling.
Let’s keep going.
---
#### 2. The books were unfairly sold out when we arrived.
- Independent clause: *The books were unfairly sold out*
→ Can stand alone.
- Dependent clause: *when we arrived*
→ Has a subject ("we") and verb ("arrived"), introduced by "when" → subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *when*
---
#### 3. Because the water was warm, I swam in the pool.
- Independent clause: *I swam in the pool*
- Dependent clause: *Because the water was warm*
→ "Because" is the subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *because*
---
#### 4. I climbed up the mountain, even if the wind had made it difficult.
- Independent clause: *I climbed up the mountain*
- Dependent clause: *even if the wind had made it difficult*
→ "Even if" introduces a conditional clause.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *even if*
---
#### 5. I learned all the events of the 1700s in history.
- This is a simple sentence — only one independent clause.
- No dependent clause.
- No subordinating conjunction.
✘ Not a complex sentence.
---
#### 6. The house had been built since 1890.
- Independent clause: *The house had been built*
- Dependent clause: *since 1890* → wait, “since 1890” is a prepositional phrase, not a clause.
No subject or verb in “since 1890”.
So this is a simple sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 7. After singing for two hours, we decided to stop.
- Independent clause: *we decided to stop*
- Dependent clause: *After singing for two hours* → again, this is a participial phrase, not a clause.
No subject/verb.
So not a complex sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 8. We must arrive on time, no matter what.
- Independent clause: *We must arrive on time*
- Dependent clause: *no matter what* → this is a noun phrase, not a clause.
Not a complex sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 9. The last really worthwhile show this year was broadcast on Saturday.
- One independent clause. No subordinate clause.
- No subordinating conjunction.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 10. The park, where we often go, closes after dusk.
- Independent clause: *The park closes after dusk*
- Dependent clause: *where we often go*
→ "where" is a relative pronoun introducing a relative clause (dependent clause).
Yes! This is a complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *where*
---
Now, let’s summarize which ones are complex sentences and identify the parts.
| Sentence | Independent Clause | Dependent Clause | Subordinating Conjunction |
|--------|--------------------|------------------|----------------------------|
| 1 | I couldn’t see the crystal cave | ✘ Not a clause | N/A |
| 2 | The books were unfairly sold out | when we arrived | when |
| 3 | I swam in the pool | Because the water was warm | because |
| 4 | I climbed up the mountain | even if the wind had made it difficult | even if |
| 5 | I learned all the events of the 1700s in history | ✘ | N/A |
| 6 | The house had been built | ✘ | N/A |
| 7 | we decided to stop | ✘ | N/A |
| 8 | We must arrive on time | ✘ | N/A |
| 9 | The last really worthwhile show this year was broadcast on Saturday | ✘ | N/A |
| 10 | The park closes after dusk | where we often go | where |
---
Only sentences 2, 3, 4, and 10 are complex sentences because they contain:
- One independent clause
- At least one dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
---
For each sentence:
1. Look for subordinating conjunctions like:
- *because, although, since, when, while, even if, unless, where, before, after, if, until, though, etc.*
2. Find the clause (subject + verb) that follows the conjunction — that’s the dependent clause.
3. The rest is usually the independent clause.
4. If there’s no such structure, it’s not a complex sentence.
---
Complex Sentences Identified:
- #2: "when we arrived" → *when*
- #3: "Because the water was warm" → *because*
- #4: "even if the wind had made it difficult" → *even if*
- #10: "where we often go" → *where*
These are the only true complex sentences.
---
If you need me to format this as a completed worksheet or provide a printable version, let me know!
Let me walk you through the task and solve it step by step, as if I were explaining it to a student.
---
🔍 Understanding the Worksheet
The worksheet defines:
- Independent Clause: A clause that can stand alone as a sentence (e.g., "I went to school").
- Dependent Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone (e.g., "because it was raining").
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
The task is to:
1. Underline the independent clause in each sentence.
2. Circle the dependent clause.
3. Identify the subordinating conjunction (the word that connects the clauses).
---
✔ Let's go through each sentence:
---
#### 1. Without a flashlight, I couldn’t see the crystal cave.
- Independent clause: *I couldn’t see the crystal cave.*
→ This can stand alone.
- Dependent clause: *Without a flashlight*
→ This is a prepositional phrase, but it’s not a full clause. Wait — this isn't a proper dependent clause with a subject and verb.
Wait! Actually, "Without a flashlight" is not a clause; it's a prepositional phrase. So this sentence might be a fragment or simple sentence.
But let's reconsider: Is there a subordinating conjunction? No.
This sentence may be incorrectly structured or possibly meant to be interpreted differently.
But looking closely:
- The main idea is “I couldn’t see the crystal cave” — that’s the independent clause.
- “Without a flashlight” is an adverbial phrase modifying the verb.
👉 So this is actually a simple sentence with an adverbial phrase, not a complex sentence.
But the worksheet says "identify the complex sentence", so perhaps this one is not complex?
Wait — maybe the worksheet has a typo or mislabeling.
Let’s keep going.
---
#### 2. The books were unfairly sold out when we arrived.
- Independent clause: *The books were unfairly sold out*
→ Can stand alone.
- Dependent clause: *when we arrived*
→ Has a subject ("we") and verb ("arrived"), introduced by "when" → subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *when*
---
#### 3. Because the water was warm, I swam in the pool.
- Independent clause: *I swam in the pool*
- Dependent clause: *Because the water was warm*
→ "Because" is the subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *because*
---
#### 4. I climbed up the mountain, even if the wind had made it difficult.
- Independent clause: *I climbed up the mountain*
- Dependent clause: *even if the wind had made it difficult*
→ "Even if" introduces a conditional clause.
✔ Complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *even if*
---
#### 5. I learned all the events of the 1700s in history.
- This is a simple sentence — only one independent clause.
- No dependent clause.
- No subordinating conjunction.
✘ Not a complex sentence.
---
#### 6. The house had been built since 1890.
- Independent clause: *The house had been built*
- Dependent clause: *since 1890* → wait, “since 1890” is a prepositional phrase, not a clause.
No subject or verb in “since 1890”.
So this is a simple sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 7. After singing for two hours, we decided to stop.
- Independent clause: *we decided to stop*
- Dependent clause: *After singing for two hours* → again, this is a participial phrase, not a clause.
No subject/verb.
So not a complex sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 8. We must arrive on time, no matter what.
- Independent clause: *We must arrive on time*
- Dependent clause: *no matter what* → this is a noun phrase, not a clause.
Not a complex sentence.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 9. The last really worthwhile show this year was broadcast on Saturday.
- One independent clause. No subordinate clause.
- No subordinating conjunction.
✘ Not complex.
---
#### 10. The park, where we often go, closes after dusk.
- Independent clause: *The park closes after dusk*
- Dependent clause: *where we often go*
→ "where" is a relative pronoun introducing a relative clause (dependent clause).
Yes! This is a complex sentence.
- Subordinating conjunction: *where*
---
✔ Final Answers
Now, let’s summarize which ones are complex sentences and identify the parts.
| Sentence | Independent Clause | Dependent Clause | Subordinating Conjunction |
|--------|--------------------|------------------|----------------------------|
| 1 | I couldn’t see the crystal cave | ✘ Not a clause | N/A |
| 2 | The books were unfairly sold out | when we arrived | when |
| 3 | I swam in the pool | Because the water was warm | because |
| 4 | I climbed up the mountain | even if the wind had made it difficult | even if |
| 5 | I learned all the events of the 1700s in history | ✘ | N/A |
| 6 | The house had been built | ✘ | N/A |
| 7 | we decided to stop | ✘ | N/A |
| 8 | We must arrive on time | ✘ | N/A |
| 9 | The last really worthwhile show this year was broadcast on Saturday | ✘ | N/A |
| 10 | The park closes after dusk | where we often go | where |
---
🧠 Key Takeaway
Only sentences 2, 3, 4, and 10 are complex sentences because they contain:
- One independent clause
- At least one dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
---
✏️ How to Solve It
For each sentence:
1. Look for subordinating conjunctions like:
- *because, although, since, when, while, even if, unless, where, before, after, if, until, though, etc.*
2. Find the clause (subject + verb) that follows the conjunction — that’s the dependent clause.
3. The rest is usually the independent clause.
4. If there’s no such structure, it’s not a complex sentence.
---
📝 Final Answer Summary
Complex Sentences Identified:
- #2: "when we arrived" → *when*
- #3: "Because the water was warm" → *because*
- #4: "even if the wind had made it difficult" → *even if*
- #10: "where we often go" → *where*
These are the only true complex sentences.
---
If you need me to format this as a completed worksheet or provide a printable version, let me know!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of complex sentences worksheet 4th grade.
