Complex sentences

A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and

one dependent clause.

In a complex sentence the independent clause has the main

information and the dependent clause provide details.

The independent clause has a subject and a predicate and makes a

complete thought that is why it is a complete sentence. The
independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a
sentence

The predicate has verb + complement.

Examples of independent clauses:

The dog ate popcorn. The cat ran quickly

He ate chocolate. Carmen drinks black coffee.

She went to the county fair. Tom writes letters in French.

I picked a flower for you. My mom is nice.

The woman taught me how to read. The woman sang.

My name is Lily. I travel extensively.
Pandas eat bamboo! I’m visiting China this summer.
We really love pandas. Some pandas are really giant.
 The four basic sentences
The four basic sentence structures are the simple sentence, the compound sentence, and the
complex sentence and the compound-complex sentence.

Structure examples

The Simple sentence: David sleeps. It has Subject + verb

Compound sentence: David sleeps and Sam reads. It has two independent clauses.

Complex sentence: When David sleeps, Sam reads. It has one indep. clause + one depen. clause.

Compound- complex sentence: When David sleeps, Sam Reads, and Tom eats his lunch. It has two
independent clauses and one dependent clause.

What Is a Compound-Complex Sentence?

Contains a combination of two types of sentence structures: a compound and a complex

sentence.

Remember: Compound sentences combine two independent clauses.

Complex sentences require an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

a compound-complex sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least
one dependent clause.

Although I like books, I do not like romance novels, but my sister loves them.

In this example, the complex sentence is “Although I like books, I do not like romance novels.” The
phrase “I do not like romance novels,” makes up the independent clause, it is a clause that
completes a full thought and gives a complete sentence.

The phrase “Although I like books” forms an introductory clause; it is a type of dependent clause
that does not complete a thought.

My sister loves them. Is the another indep. Clause

So the compound structure of this independent clauses are “I do not like romance novels” and
“my sister loves them” with the coordinating conjunction “but.”

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Jim’s mom went to the store because it’s his birthday, and she bought him a
present.

In this second example, the independent clauses are: “Jim’s mom went to the store” and “she
bought him a present” form a compound sentence with the connection of the coordinating
conjunction “and.”

The first part of the sentence, “Jim’s mom went to the store because it’s his birthday,” forms the
complex sentence.

You have an independent clause, “Jim’s mom went to the store,” and the dependent clause,
“because it’s his birthday,” which does not complete a thought.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Example 3
Until he graduates, he will live in the apartment, but then he wants to move.

The independent clauses “he will live in the apartment” and “then he wants to move” have the
connection of the coordinating conjunction “but.” These sentences s form the compound
sentence.

The dependent clause, “Until he graduates,” when combined with the independent clause, “he
will live in the apartment,” makes up the complex part of the sentence.

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Example 4
Molly, who loves cats, plans to get a kitten, but she needs to find a house.

In this type of example, “Molly, who loves cats, plans to get a kitten” makes up the complex
sentence because of the independent clause “Molly plans to get a kitten,” which is broken up by
the dependent clause “who loves cats.”

The combination of the two independent clauses “Molly plans to get a kitten” and “she needs to
find a house,” connected by the coordinating conjunction “but,” makes up the compound
sentence.

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A compound-complex sentence is made from two independent clauses and

one or more dependent clauses.
Some examples:

1. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I

haven't found anyone to go with.

 independent clause: "I haven't had the time to go lately"

 independent clause: "I haven't found anyone to go with"
 dependent clause: "Although I like to go camping... "

**********

2. We decided that the movie was too violent, but our children, who like to
watch scary movies, thought that we were wrong.

 independent clause: "We decided that the movie was too violent"
 independent clause: "(but) our children thought that we were wrong"
 dependent clause: who like to watch scary movies

Compound-complex sentences are very common in English, but one mistake

that students often make is to try to write them without having mastered the
simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences first.
If Barack Obama is re-
elected this November,
he'll serve another four
years, but it won't be an
easy contest to win.

independent cause: he'll

serve another four years

independent cause: it
won't be an easy contest to
win.

Dependent clause: If
Barack Obama is re-
elected this November,

Even though he prefers to

eat with a fork, he chooses
to use chopsticks in
Chinese restaurants;
however, they aren't easy
to use.

independent clause: he
chooses to use chopsticks
in Chinese restaurants

independent clause: they

aren't easy to use.

dependent clause: Even

though he prefers to eat
with a fork
I usually use a pick
whenever I play the
guitar, or I just use my
fingers.
Let us look at some examples of compound complex sentences

Note that the independent clauses are highlighted in blue; dependent clauses are
highlighted in green and coordinating conjunctions are highlighted in red.

1. He called the security guard and he checked the room for items which have been
stolen.
2. Jackie, who is a friend of mine, came to our house today but she did not tell me that
she is going aboard next week.
3. You have finished your work which I assigned to you yesterday, so you may go
home now.
4. The young man was considered a hero, for he was successful in arresting the
murderer who had killed an old woman.
5. If you think you can do it, just go and do it but do not complain later that I didn’t
warn you.
6. He left and I never saw him again, nor did I regret that I lost him.
7. This was not the car I liked but I had to buy it since I did not have enough money
yet my wife liked that car.
8. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and
those who matter don’t mind.
9. Among the many reasons which make me glad to have been born in England, one of
the first is that I read Shakespeare in my mother tongue. [Note that this is only a
compound sentence & not a compound complex sentence as there is only one
independent clause]
10. Those who look into the practical life will realize that fortune is usually on the side
of the industrious, as the winds and waves are on the side of the best navigators.
[Note that this is only a compound sentence & not a compound complex sentence as
there is only one independent clause]
11. I have no sympathy with the poor man I saw, who committed suicide yesterday as
he confessed that he killed his wife, but I am sorry about his kid.
12. We had in this village a girl whom I remember, who from his childhood showed a
strong liking for bees [Note that this is only a compound sentence & not a
compound complex sentence as there is only one independent clause]
13. I am satisfied with things as they are, and it will be my pride and pleasure to hand
over my estate to my children as I received it from those who preceded me.
14. He is a fine gentleman who never speaks of himself except when compelled, never
defends himself by a mere retort; he has no ears for slander or gossip and he
interprets everything for the beast.
 Dependent clauses
They have a subject and a predicate but they cannot be a sentence. They do
not make sense. Dependent clauses are incomplete sentences.

Examples:

After he went to the fair.

Though he ate popcorn.

While she was at the County fair.

If the dog eats bread.

More Examples of Dependent Clauses

Here are some examples of dependent clauses (shaded). Notice how the
shaded clauses could not stand alone as sentences. This is how a dependent
clause differs from an independent clause.

 The crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind
them.
 Do you know the butcher who went to court on Saturday?
 I am not tidying the dishes unless Peter helps.
 The excellence of a gift lies in how appropriate it is rather than how
valuable it is.

When Ronnie gets here,

If Denise comes to class late,

which I bought last weekend

dependent clause have dependent markers at the beginning.

When you add dependent markers to independent clause you convert

them to dependent clauses
The Link between a Dependent Clause and an Independent
Clause are called Dependent Markers
When a dependent clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, it will usually be part of a
complex sentence (i.e., a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent
clause). The link between a dependent clause and an independent clause will often be a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. For example:

 He literally stitched mail sacks until his fingers bled.

(subordinating conjunction in bold)

 The car which your wife sold me last week has broken down.

(relative pronoun in bold)

Subordinating Conjunctions and Relative Pronouns Used

with Dependent Clauses
Here are some more common subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns:

Common
Subordinating Relative Pronouns
Conjunctions

 after
 how
 although
 that
 as
 what
 because
 when
 before
 where
 even if
 which
 even
 who
though
 whom
 if
 whose
 provided
 why
 rather than
 since
The relative pronouns above are the simple relative pronouns. You
 so that
can also have compound ones. A compound relative pronoun is
 than
formed by adding either ever or soever to a simple pronoun.
 though
 unless
 whoever (who + ever)
 until
 whether  whosever (whose + ever)
 while
(Spelling rule: Don't allow ee.)

 whosoever (who + soever)

 whosesoever (whose + soever)
Grammar for writing

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Julio 30 del 2018.