Underline the subordinate clause in the following sentences.

1. I know a man who earns a living by selling pens.

2. Do you understand what you are doing?

3. As it was a cold evening, I didn’t feel like going out.

4. She married a rich man who is older than her father.

5. I saw a girl whose hair reached her knees.

6. I broke my leg while I was playing football yesterday.

7. Although she was a brilliant girl, she couldn’t solve the puzzle.

8. She said that she would help.

9. Suddenly it occurred to me that I hadn’t locked the door.

10. The cop asked me where I was going.

11. I am not sure if I can help.

12. As he was not there, I couldn’t meet him.

13. The laptop which I bought yesterday wasn’t very expensive.

14. The boy whom we met in the library is very brilliant.

Answers

1. I know a man (main clause) who earns a living by selling pens (subordinate clause).

2. Do you understand (main clause) what you are doing (subordinate clause)?

3. As it was a cold evening (subordinate clause), I didn’t feel like going out (main clause).

4. She married a rich man (main clause) who is older than her father (subordinate clause).

5. I saw a girl (main clause) whose hair reached her knees (subordinate clause).

6. I broke my leg (main clause) while I was playing football yesterday (subordinate clause).

7. Although she was a brilliant girl (subordinate clause), she couldn’t solve the puzzle (main clause).

8. She said (main clause) that she would help (subordinate clause).

9. Suddenly it occurred to me (main clause) that I hadn’t locked the door (subordinate clause).

10. The cop asked me (main clause) where I was going (subordinate clause).

11. I am not sure (main clause) if I can help (subordinate clause).

12. As he was not there (subordinate clause), I couldn’t meet him (main clause).

13. The laptop which I bought yesterday wasn’t very expensive. (main clause – the laptop wasn’t very expensive; subordinate clause – which I bought yesterday)

14. The boy whom we met in the library is very brilliant. (main clause – the boy is very brilliant; subordinate clause – whom we met in the library)