Lesson 3: Part C Reading
Complex Sentences
Like compound sentences, complex sentences are longer than simple sentences.
Complex sentences also have:
1.
A subject
2.
A predicate
3.
A complete thought
A complex sentence is complex because it has a dependent clause and a simple sentence. A dependent clause is a group of words that is not a complete sentence. A dependent clause cannot stand alone and needs a simple sentence to complete a thought. A dependent clause usually begins with a conjunction like after, although, as long as, because, unless, until, when, whenever.
You need to use a comma after the dependent clause when it begins the sentence as in this example.
Because the British continued to ignore American colonists’ demands for greater independence, the colonists started a revolution.
Notice that “Because the British continued to ignore American colonists’ demands for greater independence” is the dependent clause because it is not a complete sentence, and “the colonists started a revolution” is a simple sentence.
So, you need to put a comma at the end of the dependent clause because it starts this complex sentence.
Whenever you start a complex sentence with a simple sentence and follow with the dependent clause, you don’t need a comma! Notice how the sentence above looks when we re-write it beginning with the simple sentence.
The colonists started a revolution because the British continued to ignore
American colonists ’demands for greater independence.

So, with complex sentences, it is very important to notice if the dependent clause starts or ends the sentence in order to decide whether a comma is needed.
References for Lesson 3 Reading A, B, C:
English Skills Practice – Sentences, Cambridge Adult Education, 1998
America’s Story – Book One to 1865, Steck-Vaughn, 1995 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Boston
Denise Ranney, Whatcom Community College
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