Success Homeschool

Year 5 English · Complex sentences

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. Which is a subordinate clause?
- ☐ (a) The dog slept.
- ☐ (b) because the dog was tired
- ☐ (c) The dog was tired.
2. Which sentence is a complex sentence?
- ☐ (a) I ate lunch and then I read.
- ☐ (b) I ate lunch.
- ☐ (c) After I ate lunch, I read.
3. Which conjunction shows a condition?
- ☐ (a) unless
- ☐ (b) although
- ☐ (c) after
4. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- ☐ (a) Before we left we locked the door.
- ☐ (b) Before we left, we locked the door.
- ☐ (c) Before, we left we locked the door.
5. In 'Lena smiled because she had won', what is the main clause?
- ☐ (a) Lena smiled
- ☐ (b) because she had won
- ☐ (c) she had won
6. Type the subordinating conjunction in: 'We waited inside until the storm passed.'
7. Type the conjunction that best shows contrast: '___ he practised every day, Kai still found the piece difficult.' (although / because / if)
8. After which word should a comma go? 'While Dad cooked dinner Maya set the table.' Type the word.

Answer sheet

1. because the dog was tired — 'Because the dog was tired' does not make complete sense on its own.
2. After I ate lunch, I read. — 'After I ate lunch' is a subordinate clause attached to the main clause 'I read'.
3. unless — 'Unless' sets a condition: 'We will be late unless we hurry.'
4. Before we left, we locked the door. — The subordinate clause comes first, so a comma follows it.
5. Lena smiled — 'Lena smiled' makes sense on its own.
6. until — 'Until' begins the subordinate clause 'until the storm passed'.
7. although — Practising and still finding it difficult is a contrast, so 'although' fits.
8. dinner — The subordinate clause 'While Dad cooked dinner' comes first, so a comma goes after 'dinner'.