Subordinating Conjunctions Worksheets and Exercises • 7ESL

Contents

Subordinating conjunctions may be small, but they do big work in making sentences complete and meaningful! Words like because, although, if, and when help connect ideas and show cause, time, condition, and more. These worksheets are designed to help learners master how to use subordinating conjunctions naturally and confidently in their writing—through fun stories, sentence-building tasks, and fill-in-the-blank activities.

Learn more: Subordinating Conjunctions in English

Subordinating Conjunctions Worksheets

Choose the correct subordinating conjunction (SWABI) to combine the independent clauses into one complex sentence.

Answer key:

1. Sam likes to read action novels after her friend read one to her.

2. Since I tutored other students after school, I won a character award.

3. You can earn a cell phone if you can complete your chores.

4. I would like crab because I lived on the Oregon Coast.

5. While I was studying for an exam, my friends were watching a movie.

2. Find subordianting conjunctions given below in the puzzle. Words may appear across, down, or diagonally. Try to find them all!

Answer key:

3. Read the story and fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions. Choose the conjunction that best fits the context of the sentence.

Answer key:

because – Liam loved going to the park, especially in the morning because it was quiet and peaceful.
when – He always brought a book to read when he found a nice bench under the trees.
while – One day, while he was reading, he heard a soft meow…
because – It looked scared and hungry because it had been outside all night.
before – Before he took the kitten home, he needed to make sure…
if – His mom said, “You can bring it home if you promise to take care of it.”
when – When he arrived home, he gave it warm milk…
because – He named it “Shadow” because it kept hiding under the bed…
unless – …but only unless Shadow is happily napping at home.

4. Fill in each blank with the correct subordinating conjunction from the word bank. Each sentence has only one logical answer.

Answer Key:

after
while
if
when
although
so that
since
if
unless
before

Subordinating Conjunctions Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

Direction:

Fill in each blank with an appropriate subordinating conjunction from the word bank. Each sentence has only one correct answer.

Word Bank:

although – because – since – if – when – unless – while – before – after – until

Sentences:

I stayed home from school ___ I was feeling sick.
We can’t leave ___ the bell rings.
___ you study hard, you will pass the test.
She smiled ___ she was tired.
Please turn off the lights ___ you leave the room.
He waited patiently ___ the rain stopped.
You won’t get dessert ___ you finish your vegetables.
I had never seen snow ___ I moved to Canada.
We were watching TV ___ Mom was cooking dinner.
___ it was cold, we decided to go hiking.

Answer Key:

because
until
if
although
when
until
unless
until
while
although

Exercise 2: Combine Two Sentences

Direction:

Combine each pair of simple sentences using a subordinating conjunction to create one complex sentence. Use conjunctions like: because, although, when, while, if, before, after, since, unless, until. Write your answer on the line.

Sentence Pairs:

I was tired. I went to bed early.
It was raining. We played soccer anyway.
He studied all night. He wanted to pass the exam.
Mia was baking cookies. Her brother was watching TV.
Finish your homework. You can go outside.
The lights went out. We were watching a movie.
We didn’t go swimming. The pool was closed.
You wear a coat. You will get cold.
I’ll call you. I get home from school.
He can’t join us. He finishes his work.

Sample Answer Key:

I went to bed early because I was tired.
Although it was raining, we played soccer.
He studied all night because he wanted to pass the exam.
Mia was baking cookies while her brother was watching TV.
After you finish your homework, you can go outside.
The lights went out while we were watching a movie.
We didn’t go swimming because the pool was closed.
Unless you wear a coat, you will get cold.
I’ll call you when I get home from school.
He can’t join us until he finishes his work.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Direction:

Each sentence below contains a mistake with a subordinating conjunction. Find the error and rewrite the sentence correctly using the right conjunction.

Sentences with Errors:

We stayed inside unless it was raining.
She called me because I arrived at her house.
I brought my umbrella although it looked sunny.
The baby started crying if the dog barked loudly.
Until we were late, we missed the bus.
Although you study, you will pass the test.
He can’t go to the park when he finishes his chores.
They cheered if the team scored a goal.
Since it was cold, we wore shorts.
She fell asleep after the movie starts.

Answer Key:

We stayed inside because it was raining.
She called me when I arrived at her house.
I brought my umbrella even though it looked sunny.
The baby started crying when the dog barked loudly.
Because we were late, we missed the bus.
If you study, you will pass the test.
He can’t go to the park until he finishes his chores.
They cheered when the team scored a goal.
Although it was cold, we wore shorts.
She fell asleep after the movie started.

Exercise 4: Choose the Correct Conjunction

Direction:

Choose the correct subordinating conjunction to complete each sentence. Circle A, B, or C.

Sentences:

I took an umbrella ___ it looked like rain.
A) before B) because C) until
She was reading a book ___ the lights went out.
A) while B) although C) if
We will wait here ___ the teacher arrives.
A) because B) until C) although
He stayed home ___ he was sick.
A) unless B) because C) if
___ she studies hard, she will pass the test.
A) Although B) If C) Since
The kids played outside ___ it started raining.
A) until B) because C) although
I always brush my teeth ___ I go to bed.
A) before B) unless C) while
We can’t leave ___ we clean our room.
A) although B) unless C) when
___ he tried his best, he didn’t win the race.
A) Although B) Because C) If
You won’t get better ___ you take your medicine.
A) when B) because C) unless

Answer Key:

No.	Correct Answer
1	B) because
2	A) while
3	B) until
4	B) because
5	B) If
6	A) until
7	A) before
8	B) unless
9	A) Although
10	C) unless

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Alma Webster

Alma Webster is an English teacher from England who has been teaching ESL since 2020. Passionate about language and culture, she loves traveling the world and currently lives in Thailand.