Subordinate Clauses online activity - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step.

We are asked to:
1. Identify the dependent clause in each sentence.
2. Label it as:
- ADJ – Adjective clause (modifies a noun)
- ADV – Adverb clause (modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb — often shows time, reason, condition, etc.)
- N – Noun clause (acts as a subject, object, or complement)

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1. Although it was freezing, Katie decided to visit her grandma.

- Dependent clause: Although it was freezing
- This clause explains why Katie decided something → gives reason
- Type: ADV (adverb clause of reason)
✔ Answer: Although it was freezing → ADV

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2. She decided to take the bus because it was too cold to cycle.

- Dependent clause: because it was too cold to cycle
- Explains why she decided → reason
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: because it was too cold to cycle → ADV

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3. As it was so cold, her older brother drove her to the bus stop.

- Dependent clause: As it was so cold
- Explains why her brother drove her → reason
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: As it was so cold → ADV

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4. While she was waiting, she decided to read her book.

- Dependent clause: While she was waiting
- Tells when she decided → time
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: While she was waiting → ADV

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5. Grandma was very happy, since Katie hadn’t been able to visit her for a long time.

- Dependent clause: since Katie hadn’t been able to visit her for a long time
- Explains why Grandma was happy → reason
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: since Katie hadn’t been able to visit her for a long time → ADV

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6. Grandma had barely left her house until she got vaccinated.

- Dependent clause: until she got vaccinated
- Tells when she stopped not leaving → time/condition
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: until she got vaccinated → ADV

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7. In summer they got together a few times because they could meet outside.

- Dependent clause: because they could meet outside
- Explains why they got together → reason
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: because they could meet outside → ADV

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8. If they meet inside, both of them wear masks.

- Dependent clause: If they meet inside
- States a condition under which the main action happens
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: If they meet inside → ADV

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9. Katie had bought Grandma her favorite pastries before she arrived.

- Dependent clause: before she arrived
- Tells when the buying happened → time
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: before she arrived → ADV

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10. After they had talked for an hour, Katie left so Grandma could take off her mask to have tea.

- Two dependent clauses here:
- After they had talked for an hour → time → ADV
- so Grandma could take off her mask to have tea → purpose → ADV
- But we are to choose one dependent clause.
- The first one is clearly the dependent clause modifying the verb "left"
- So pick: After they had talked for an hour
- Type: ADV
✔ Answer: After they had talked for an hour → ADV

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11. She said that I will have to go.

- Dependent clause: that I will have to go
- This clause is the object of "said" → acts as a noun
- Type: N (noun clause)
✔ Answer: that I will have to go → N

> Note: "I will have to go" is a noun clause acting as the direct object of "said".

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12. The constable asked me what I was searching for.

- Dependent clause: what I was searching for
- This is a question word clause used as the object of "asked"
- It functions as a noun clause (specifically, object of the verb "asked")
- Type: N
✔ Answer: what I was searching for → N

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✔ Final Answers:

| Sentence | Dependent Clause | Type |
|--------|------------------|------|
| 1 | Although it was freezing | ADV |
| 2 | because it was too cold to cycle | ADV |
| 3 | As it was so cold | ADV |
| 4 | While she was waiting | ADV |
| 5 | since Katie hadn’t been able to visit her for a long time | ADV |
| 6 | until she got vaccinated | ADV |
| 7 | because they could meet outside | ADV |
| 8 | If they meet inside | ADV |
| 9 | before she arrived | ADV |
| 10 | After they had talked for an hour | ADV |
| 11 | that I will have to go | N |
| 12 | what I was searching for | N |

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Adverb clauses (ADV) usually start with subordinating conjunctions like:
- *although, because, since, while, as, until, if, before, after, so that, when, where, why* — and tell how, when, where, why, or under what condition something happens.
- Noun clauses (N) act as subjects, objects, or complements. They often start with:
- *that, what, who, whether, how, why* — and can be replaced by a pronoun like "it" or "this".
- Adjective clauses (ADJ) modify nouns and usually begin with relative pronouns like *who, whom, whose, which, that*. None of these sentences have such clauses.

Thus, in this worksheet, only ADV and N types appear.

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