Complex Sentences Practice

Master complex sentences with clause identification and punctuation practice!

Read each sentence. Identify the underlined part of each sentence. 1. The mailman wouldn't deliver the mail after the dog bit him. dependent clause independent clause 2. Austin could have done better on the test although he did receive an A. dependent clause independent clause 3. Because she skipped a step in the recipe, she had to start over. dependent clause independent clause 4. Before my mom would let me spend the night, she had to talk to Chloe's mom. dependent clause independent clause 5. If you study for the test, you will do much better. dependent clause independent clause 6. Once the play started, we were not allowed to talk. dependent clause independent clause 7. We won't be able to play unless the rain stops by noon. dependent clause independent clause 8. Eddie practiced the guitar until he could play the song perfectly. dependent clause independent clause 9. When I think about my fourth-grade teacher, I laugh at how crazy she was. dependent clause independent clause 10. We played games while the adults talked. dependent clause independent clause 11. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Because we were all so tired, we decided to go home early. Because we were all so tired we decided to go home early. 12. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Unless we do all of our homework, we won't be able to play. Unless we do all of our homework we won't be able to play. 13. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? My dog waited at the store for us, until we got home. My dog waited at the store for us until we got home. 14. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Alice played the piano, while Mary played her flute. Alice played the piano while Mary played her flute. 15. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Although none of us wanted to leave, we had to be home before midnight. Although none of us wanted to leave we had to be home before midnight. 16. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? If Charlie doesn't stop teasing that dog, the dog is going to bite him. If Charlie doesn't stop teasing that dog the dog is going to bite him. 17. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? We took pictures while the monkeys swung from the trees. We took pictures, while the monkeys swung from the trees. 18. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Whenever my sister gets into trouble, she has to clean the bathroom. Whenever my sister gets into trouble she has to clean the bathroom. 19. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Once school begins, we will have to get up early. Once school begins we will have to get up early. 20. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? I had to go to the dentist because my back tooth started to hurt. I had to go to the dentist, because my back tooth started to hurt.