The Writing Center- Valle Verde
Complex Sentences
In writing, it is important to become familiar with the four general types of sentences: simple,
compound, complex, and compound-complex. Knowing the different types of sentences will
help add variety to writing and clearly express relationships between ideas.
A complex sentence is composed of one independent clause with one or more dependent
(subordinate) clauses.
An independent clause is a group of words (subject and predicate) that can stand by itself as a
simple sentence.
Ex. Mr. Harrison goes to the park.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added to an independent
clause to form a complex sentence.
Ex. if the weather is nice
The independent and dependent clauses mentioned above may be combined to form the
following complex sentences:
Mr. Harrison goes to the park if the weather is nice.
If the weather is nice, Mr. Harrison goes to the park.
An easy way to identify dependent (subordinate) clauses is if they begin with the following
subordinating conjunctions:
After
Although
As
As if
Because
Before
Even though
If
In order that
Once
Since
So that
Than
That
Though
Unless
Until
When
Where
While
A coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) gives the ideas equal emphasis, and a
subordinating conjunction emphasizes one idea more than another.
coordinating conjunction: He enjoys science, and he has to study hard.
subordinating conjunction: He enjoys science even though he has to study hard.
Even though he enjoys science, he has to study hard.
The Writing Center- Valle Verde
Constructing a Complex Sentence
1. The independent clause can go first in the sentence, followed by a dependent clause.
Ex. Cristina went to the movies before getting lunch.
Margaret is planning a wedding even though she has no time.
Note: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the
clauses.
2. The dependent clause can go first in the sentence, followed by an independent clause.
Ex. Before getting lunch, Cristina went to the movies.
Even though she has no time, Margaret is planning a wedding.
Note: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the clauses.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
George goes to the mall because he needs to buy a present for his sister.
Although Carrie does not like to travel, she has visited many places around the world.
Louise and Tom enjoy dancing since it is a fun way to exercise.
In order that Steve and Jerry earn extra credit, they must volunteer building houses.
Compound-complex Sentences
Compound-complex sentences contain two independent clauses and at least one dependent
(subordinate) clause.
Examples:
An accident occurred at the busy intersection, and an ambulance arrived before nightfall.
While on vacation, Robert visited the zoo, but he was unable to see the pandas.
Some information courtesy of:
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2011.
Print.
Lunsford, Andrea A. Easy Writer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2010. Print.