Sentences and clauses

Match the following

• Jenny ran down the steep hill while a pack of wolves chased her.

• A complex sentence

• Jenny ran down the steep hill.

• A clause

• Jenny ran

• A simple sentence

Answer explanation

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb.

A complex sentence, has a main clause (that makes sense on its own) and a subordinate clause (that does not make sense on its own).

Write an example of a simple sentence. Remember the full stops and capital letters.

Choose the answers that are clauses (remember a clause has a subject and a verb) Hint there is more than one!

• in the morning

• I ran

• under the table

• the boy loves cake

Answer explanation

Remember a clause has a verb and a subject.

Words such as in are prepositions.

Match the main (independent clause) the to the subordinate (dependent) clause so the sentence make sense.

• I didn't like snakes.

• butterlies are beautiful

• I will go straight home

• If it is dark

• she does not not like chocolate ice cream

• as long as I can remember

• when they spread their wings

• although Mrs Watts likes chocolate

• until it became dark

• George climbed the step mountain

Answer explanation

Please note that sometimes these are called main clause and subordinate and sometimes independent and dependent.

Choose the sentences that have the independent clause underlined.

• Harry hid in the undergrowth, before jumping out.

• If its Tuesday, we have a swimming lesson.

• As soon as I can, I will travel to Japan.

• I love chocolate, although I dislike chocolate ice cream.

Write a complex sentence that has an independent clause and a subordinate clause. Use one of the subordinating conjunctions you learned last year.