Grade 3 Fall — Personal Narrative, Complex Sentences with Subordinate Clauses, and Morphology with Affixes and Roots
English · GR G3 eng.g3.f.gr.complex_sentence_subordination

Compose complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions (when, because, although, since, after, before, while, until, if)

Recognize a subordinate clause; combine an independent clause with a subordinate clause using one of nine subordinating conjunctions; apply the comma rule (fronted subordinate clause takes a comma; back-position usually does not). Sort sentences as simple, compound, or complex (L.3.1.i).

Mastery threshold
90%
Min instances
14
Typical minutes
45
Spaced intervals (days)
1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60
Prereqs
Successors
  • eng.g3.s.gr.compound_complex_sentences
    (not yet loaded)
  • eng.g4.f.gr.compound_complex_sentences_expanded
    (not yet loaded)
Common misconceptions
  • Writes a subordinate clause as a standalone sentence (sentence fragment: 'Because the soup was cold.').
  • Omits the comma after a fronted subordinate clause ('When the bell rang we hurried.').

Exercise pool (5)

Diff Stem Type
2 Combine each pair into one complex sentence using WHEN or BECAUSE. Apply the fronted-comma rule. (1) The bell rang. We hurried inside.... combine with when because
2 Sort these 8 complex sentences into FRONTED (subordinate clause first, comma needed) or BACK (subordinate clause last, no comma needed).... fronted back sort
3 Combine each pair into one complex sentence using ALTHOUGH (contrast) or SINCE (cause or time). Apply the comma rule. (1) I was tired. I... combine with although since
3 Combine each pair into a complex sentence using the indicated time-subordinator. Apply the comma rule. (1) The bell rang. I packed my... combine with before after while until
4 Open your narrative draft. Pick ONE sentence (or two short sentences). Use a time-subordinator (BEFORE / AFTER / WHILE / UNTIL) to layer... subordinator revise in draft