Mastering Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences
Understanding Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected to it. A dependent clause resembles an independent clause—or a complete sentence—but lacks one of the essential elements required to function as a complete thought.
Examples of Dependent Clauses
- Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon
- While he waited at the train station
- After they left on the bus
Dependent clauses like those above cannot stand alone as complete sentences. However, they can be attached to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Dependent clauses typically begin with subordinating conjunctions. Common examples include: after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, wherever, and while.
Sentence Structure Variations
A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses. The dependent clause can appear at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
Dependent Clause First
- Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.
- While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
- After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.
Independent Clause First
- I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.
- Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station.
- Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus.
Compound-Complex Sentences
To understand a compound-complex sentence, it is helpful to review the definitions of compound and complex sentences:
- Compound sentence: Made of two simple sentences joined by a conjunction.
- Complex sentence: Made of a simple sentence and a dependent (subordinate) clause, which contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.
A compound-complex sentence consists of more than one independent clause joined by a conjunction, with at least one of those clauses being complex. Essentially, it is a compound sentence that includes a dependent or subordinate clause.
Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences
In these examples, the dependent or subordinate clause is italicized.
- When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, and my mom is proud of me.
- I will get to watch television, but first, I have to clean up the dishes after we finish eating.
- We won the game, but my uniform was muddy because it rained the entire time.