Find the Subordinate Clause | Sentence Structure Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve the task step by step.

Task:

Find the Subordinate Clause
In each sentence, underline the subordinate clause and circle the subordinating conjunction.

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A subordinate clause (also called a dependent clause) is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on the main clause to make sense.
A subordinating conjunction introduces the subordinate clause and shows the relationship between the clauses (e.g., *because*, *although*, *when*, *if*, *while*, *unless*).

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

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1. After John caught the fish, Kelly caught one also.

- Subordinate clause: *After John caught the fish*
→ This clause tells when Kelly caught the fish.
- Subordinating conjunction: *After*
→ "After" connects the time event to the main action.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *After John caught the fish*
Circle: After

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2. The prince and his knights rode into the valley because the dragon had burned the village.

- Subordinate clause: *because the dragon had burned the village*
→ Explains why they rode into the valley.
- Subordinating conjunction: *because*
→ Shows reason.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *because the dragon had burned the village*
Circle: because

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3. If Louise goes to the store, she will be late for the movie.

- Subordinate clause: *If Louise goes to the store*
→ Conditional clause; explains the condition for being late.
- Subordinating conjunction: *If*
→ Introduces the condition.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *If Louise goes to the store*
Circle: If

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4. I like to eat lunch outside when the sun is shining.

- Subordinate clause: *when the sun is shining*
→ Tells when the person likes to eat.
- Subordinating conjunction: *when*
→ Indicates time.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *when the sun is shining*
Circle: when

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5. The ball bounced into the hole where Casey and Robert could not reach it.

- Subordinate clause: *where Casey and Robert could not reach it*
→ Describes the location (the hole).
- Subordinating conjunction: *where*
→ Refers to place.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *where Casey and Robert could not reach it*
Circle: where

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6. Since his car broke down, Mr. Evans rides the bus to work.

- Subordinate clause: *Since his car broke down*
→ Gives the reason for riding the bus.
- Subordinating conjunction: *Since*
→ Shows cause/reason.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *Since his car broke down*
Circle: Since

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7. In Paris, the French boy played on the bridge until his mother called him home.

- Subordinate clause: *until his mother called him home*
→ Tells how long he played.
- Subordinating conjunction: *until*
→ Indicates time duration.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *until his mother called him home*
Circle: until

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8. While the family slept, the mouse ran through the kitchen and ate the bread.

- Subordinate clause: *While the family slept*
→ Tells when the mouse acted.
- Subordinating conjunction: *While*
→ Indicates time during which something happened.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *While the family slept*
Circle: While

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9. On his birthday Adam received a football, which he traded for a baseball bat.

- Subordinate clause: *which he traded for a baseball bat*
→ Describes the football (relative clause).
- Subordinating conjunction: *which*
→ Relative pronoun introducing the clause.

⚠️ Note: "Which" functions as a relative pronoun here, acting as a subordinating connector in a relative clause.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *which he traded for a baseball bat*
Circle: which

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10. Unless you have another idea, we will play Will’s game this afternoon.

- Subordinate clause: *Unless you have another idea*
→ Conditional clause — states the exception.
- Subordinating conjunction: *Unless*
→ Means “if not”; introduces a condition.

✔ Answer:
Underline: *Unless you have another idea*
Circle: Unless

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✔ Final Summary:

| Sentence | Underlined Subordinate Clause | Circled Conjunction |
|--------|-------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1 | After John caught the fish | After |
| 2 | because the dragon had burned the village | because |
| 3 | If Louise goes to the store | If |
| 4 | when the sun is shining | when |
| 5 | where Casey and Robert could not reach it | where |
| 6 | Since his car broke down | Since |
| 7 | until his mother called him home | until |
| 8 | While the family slept | While |
| 9 | which he traded for a baseball bat | which |
| 10 | Unless you have another idea | Unless |

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📝 Explanation:

- Always look for subordinating conjunctions like: *after, because, if, when, where, since, until, while, unless, although, though, even though, as, before, so that,* etc.
- Once you identify the conjunction, find the clause it starts — that’s your subordinate clause.
- The subordinate clause usually adds time, reason, condition, contrast, or description to the main clause.

This exercise helps students recognize complex sentences and understand how ideas are connected using dependent clauses.

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