Printable Subordinating Conjunctions Worksheets
Printable subordinating conjunctions worksheets for 3rd through 5th grade, with an answer key on every sheet. The sets below cover 3 different skills, so you can start where your child actually is. Available as fill in the blank and sorting activities.
Targeted Practice by Skill
About Subordinating Conjunctions
What this skill is
Subordinating conjunctions are transition words (e.g., because, although, since, if, unless, while, after, before, until) that introduce dependent clauses, connecting them to independent main clauses and establishing cause, condition, time, or contrast relationships. Solvers master subordinator selection, complex sentence structure, introductory clause comma placement, dependent clause identification, clause combining, clause linking, sentence mechanics, and logical transitions across essay writing and editing.
When children learn it
High-frequency subordinators (because, if, when) are introduced in 3rd grade. In 4th grade and 5th grade, lessons expand to complex subordinators (although, unless, since, whenever, provided that), introductory dependent clause comma rules, and sentence combining across language arts units and essay writing.
Common Mistakes
- Creating a sentence fragment by leaving a dependent clause starting with a subordinator standing alone (e.g., 'Because it rained.').
- Forgetting to place a comma after an introductory dependent clause at the start of a complex sentence.
- Inserting an unnecessary comma when the dependent clause follows the main independent clause at the end.
- Misunderstanding the precise logical relationship expressed by the subordinator, leading directly to illogical sentence connections.