Complex Sentences and Subordinate Clauses
A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A main clause has a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause also has a subject and a predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. It depends on the main clause to complete its meaning. It can act as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun.
MAIN CLAUSE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
They are playing music that I like to hear. (adjective)
We must stop skating when the music stops. (adverb)
I will tell you what happened at the rink. (noun)
Write in the blank simple or complex to identify the type of sentence.
complex February 2, which is the midpoint of winter, is an unusual holiday.
__________ 1. It is Groundhog Day and is celebrated all over the country.
__________ 2. The groundhog, which is actually a woodchuck, emerges from hibernation on that day.
__________ 3. If the groundhog sees it shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather.
__________ 4. After the groundhog sees it shadow, it returns to its burrow until spring.
__________ 5. If the day is cloudy and the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will come early.
__________ 6. The groundhog stays outside because it expects spring.
__________ 7. People enjoy this customer although most do not believe in it.
__________ 8. Statistical evidence does not support this popular superstition.
__________ 9. The groundhog that most people watch for is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
__________ 10. Its name is Phil, probably from the word fillip, which means "anything that stirs or liven up."
__________ 11. About seven thousand townspeople gather on February 2 and watch for the famous groundhog.
