A verb is the action in a sentence. A subject is a noun or pronoun that either performs or receives the action of the sentence. A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. If a clause conveys a complete meaning, it is an independent clause i.e., a complete sentence. An independent clause can stand alone. In contrast, a dependent clause does not make sense by itself. A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction. A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but does not convey a complete thought.
There are many different subordinating conjunctions in the English language. The following table lists some of the more commonly used subordinating conjunctions.
| although | because | since |
| than | whereas | though |
| unless | if | where |
| wherever | after | before |
| by the time | when | until |
| even | even though | while |
What makes a complex sentence? In line with the complex sentence structure, complex sentences form when an independent clause is added to a subordinate clause, using a subordinating conjunction.
In the example above, after is the subordinating conjunction. The independent clause Susana went to medical school is connected to the dependent clause after she got her B.S.
Having a variety of sentence types makes written work more effective, easier to read and understand, and more interesting. There are different kinds of sentences that writers can employ in their writings. For example, in addition to complex sentences, there are simple, compound, and complex-compound sentences in the English language.
A simple sentence is a sentence that contains one subject, one verb, and a complete thought. A simple sentence is, in fact, an independent clause.
In this example, Canada is the subject, and has is the verb. The thought of the sentence is complete.
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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two independent clauses connected to each other by a coordinating conjunction. The coordinating conjunction must be preceded by a comma. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language:
Canada has ten provinces, and it has three territories as well. This sentence is a compound sentence because two independent clauses, Canada has ten provinces and it has three territories as well, are connected to each other by the coordinating conjunction and preceded by a comma. Canada and it are subjects, and has is the verb in both independent clauses.
A complex-compound sentence contains a compound sentence (two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction) and a dependent clause.
This is an example of a complex-compound sentence. This sentence is made up of two independent clauses (simple sentence) and a dependent clause. Hossein's B.S. is in chemical engineering and his M.S. is in chemistry are two independent clauses connected to each other by the coordinating conjunction and. Whereas is a subordinating conjunction. It connects the dependent clause whereas his Ph.D. is in education to a compound sentence, creating a complex-compound sentence.
| Hossein's B.S. is in chemical engineering. | Simple sentence / independent clause |
| and | Coordinating conjunction |
| His M.S. is in chemistry. | Simple sentence / Independent clause |
| whereas his Ph.D. is in education | Subordinating conjunction and dependent clause |
While a simple sentence has one independent clause, and a compound sentence has two independent clauses, a complex sentence has an independent and a dependent clause. A complex-compound sentence, on the other hand, contains two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
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Writers often wonder how to write complex sentences. Writing complex sentences is not a difficult task if writers bear in mind what makes a complex sentence: an independent and a dependent clause, with the dependent clause starting with a subordinating conjunction.
How do you create a complex sentence? The first step in writing a complex sentence is to recognize the dependent and independent clauses. Then the clauses must be written in one sentence. If the complex sentence starts with the dependent clause, it must be separated from the independent clause by a comma. If the complex sentence starts with the independent clause, no comma is necessary.
| Examples | Explanations |
|---|---|
| Because avocados are full of nutrition, they are considered healthy snacks. | Since this complex sentence is started with a dependent clause because avocados are full of nutrition, a comma has separated the dependent clause from the independent clause they are considered healthy snacks. |
| Avocados are considered healthy snacks because they are full of nutrition. | This is the same sentence in reverse order. The independent clause is followed by a dependent clause. Therefore, no comma is necessary. |
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The most important marker of a complex sentence is its subordinating conjunction. To identify a complex sentence, writers need to first identify the subordinating conjunction in a sentence. Words such as although, whereas, because, and after are examples of subordinating conjunctions. Then writers must check to see if an independent clause has preceded the subordinating conjunction if it is in the middle of the sentence. If the sentence has started with the subordinating conjunction, then writers need to check if the dependent clause is separated by a comma from the independent clause. If these conditions are met, then the sentence can be identified as a complex sentence.
Complex sentence practice: The following table shows examples of simple sentences formed into complex sentences. Explanations are provided too.
| Simple Sentences | Complex Sentences | Explanations |
|---|---|---|
| We decided to go on a picnic. It was a beautiful day. | 1.We decide to go on a picnic because it was a beautiful day. 2.Since it was a beautiful day, we decided to go on a picnic. |
These examples show two different ways of creating complex sentences from simple sentences. In both complex sentences the simple sentence, it was a beautiful day, is turned to a dependent clause because subordinating conjunctions because and since have been added to it. A comma separates the dependent clause since it was a beautiful day from the independent clause we decided to go on a picnic in the first complex sentence. This is because the complex sentence is started with the subordinating conjunction since. However, no comma is necessary in the second complex sentence. |
| Salma graduated from college. She found a job easily. | After Salma graduated from college, she found a job easily. | Salma graduated from college has become a dependent clause because the subordinating conjunction after has been added to it. As the complex sentence is started with the subordinating conjunction after as well as the subordinate clause, a comma has separated the dependent clause from the independent clause she found a job easily. |
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. There are two kinds of clauses: independent and dependent or subordinate clauses. An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. However, while a dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, it does not have a complete thought.
When one independent clause is connected to one or more subordinate clauses, then a complex sentence is formed. Subordinate clauses are connected to independent clauses by a subordinating conjunction. Since, because, although, and after are some examples of commonly used subordinating conjunctions.
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Creating a good piece of writing is like creating a work of art. It takes hard work, skill, and practice. In this lesson, we discussed how creating complex sentences can improve the quality of your writing my making it flow better. Try editing the paragraph below (a sample of someone writing for a cooking blog) using complex sentences to make the writing sound better and more smooth.
Remember: complex sentences have one independent clause (complete thought) and at least one subordinate clause (or incomplete thought)!
This is a recipe for homemade chocolate chip cookies. It is my grandmother's recipe. She always brought these to family dinners. Everyone loved them. The first step is preheat the oven to 350°. This saves time. The oven can heat while you prepare the dough. Mix one cup of soft butter with one cup of white sugar. Mix them until they are soft. Then add one cup of packed brown sugar. Add two eggs. Only add them one at a time. Pour in the vanilla extract (two teaspoons). Then mix one teaspoon of baking soda in two teaspoons of hot water and wait for it to dissolve then add it to the bowl. Then add half a teaspoon of salt. Then put in three cups of flour. Next is two cups of semisweet chocolate chips. Then add one cup of chopped walnuts. You can use another kind of nut if you want. Or you can leave out the nuts. Drop the batter from a spoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for ten minutes. We always remember my grandmother when we eat these.
This is my favorite recipe for homemade chocolate chip cookies, straight from my grandmother's kitchen. These cookies were my favorite part of family dinners as a child (and my family's favorite part too). The very first step in this recipe is to preheat your oven to 350°, which saves time by letting your oven heat up as you prepare the dough. Next, mix a cup of softened butter, one cup of white sugar, and one cup of packed brown sugar until the mixture is nice and soft. Then, add two eggs, one at a time, and two teaspoons of vanilla extract. The next step is to dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in two teaspoons of hot water. Add that to the mixture along with half a teaspoon of salt, three cups of flour, and two cups of semisweet chocolate chips. If you and your family like nuts in your cookies, then add one cup of chopped nuts, which is an optional ingredient in this recipe. Granny always used walnuts. Using a spoon, drop spoonfuls of the batter onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake them for ten minutes. Tasting these cookies fresh out of the oven always makes me remember my grandmother!
The following is an example of a complex sentence.
Ex: You will feel comfortable writing complex sentences, after you go through this lesson.
The most obvious marker of a complex sentence is its subordinating conjunction. Therefore, if a sentence contains a subordinating conjunction and at least one dependent clause and one independent clause, that sentence can be identified as a complex sentence.
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