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Revise the Structure of Complex Sentences

In this worksheet, students will revise how to identify the main clause, the subordinate clause and the conjunction in complex sentences.

'Revise the Structure of Complex Sentences' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 3

Year:  Year 7 English worksheets

Curriculum topic:   Grammar and Vocabulary

Curriculum subtopic:   Extend and Apply Grammatical Knowledge

Difficulty level:  

Worksheet Overview

A complex sentence links two or more ideas within one sentence.

The two parts, or clauses, are usually linked by a conjunction.

 

In the following sentence, the conjunction because is used to link the two clauses.

 

suitcase

 

Mr Jones forgot to collect his suitcase because he was in a hurry.

 

The main clause in a complex sentence makes sense on its own.

Mr Jones forgot to collect his suitcase because he was in a hurry.

 

The subordinate clause begins with the conjunction and does not make sense on its own.

Mr Jones forgot to collect his suitcase because he was in a hurry.

 

A subordinate clause can be at the beginning of a sentence or at the end. Moving the clauses around can make your writing more varied and interesting to read.

Because he was in a hurry, Mr Jones forgot to collect his suitcase.

 

If the subordinate clause is at the beginning of the sentence, we use a comma to separate the clauses - like in that sentence!

 

Are you ready to get started?

 

happy boy throwing leaves in the air

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