a complex sentence of a girl doing her homework

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Four Sentence Structures: Simple, Compound, Complex, & Compound-Complex

There are four sentence structures in English: Simple , Compound , Complex, and Compound-Complex . Here are examples of each:

• She ate lunch.  ( Simple : one independent clause)
• She ate lunch, but she was still hungry. ( Compound : two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction ).
• She was still hungry even though she had eaten lunch . ( Complex : an independent clause + a dependent clause)
• She was tired, and she was still hungry even though she had eaten lunch ( Compound-Complex : two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction and one dependent clause)

First: Understanding Clauses

A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb . It's important to understand that there are two types of clauses:

Independent Clauses

A sentence must have at least one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that form a complete thought when you put them together. Here are some examples:

• She ate lunch. 
• The car drove on the road. 
• On Tuesday, I had my test. 

These sentences are complete thoughts , which means that no more information is needed to understand them completely.

Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses)

Dependent clauses are incomplete thoughts. They depend on an independent clause in order for the sentence to have meaning. Dependent clauses begin with a subordinate conjunction . Here are some examples:

• when I got home (what happened?)
• because the restaurant was closed (what happened because it was closed?)
• whom I respect very much (whom are we talking about?)

As you can see, more information is needed. To create a complete sentence , you need to add an independent clause . Here are the examples again but written as complete sentences (known as complex sentences):

• I washed the dishes when I got home .
• We couldn't eat because the restaurant was closed .
• The company's owner is Alice Brown , whom I respect very much .

Now that you understand this, we can look at the four different sentence structures.

Structure #1: Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is one independent clause . A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and a verb, and an independent clause it a group of words that form a complete thought when you put them together. Here are some examples:

• She ate lunch. (Independent clause)
• The car drove on the road.  (Independent clause)
• On Tuesday, I had my test. (Independent clause)

Again, all of these sentences are complete thoughts .

Structure #2: Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is made of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction .

Although the most commonly used coordinating conjunctions are but , and , so , and or, there are  seven coordinating conjunctions in English:

The above sentences are all independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, so they are all compound sentences.

Structure #3: Complex Sentences

A complex sentence has a dependent clause and an independent clause. The dependent clause can come at the beginning of the sentence or at the end. Here are some examples:

• She fell asleep because she was tired .
• Because she was tired , she fell asleep.
• I'll call you if I go .
• If I go , I'll call you.

(Note: When a dependent clause starts a sentence, you should put a comma at its end to show where the clause ends.)

An adjective clause (also known as a relative clause) is also considered a dependent clause as well. E.g.:

• This is the store where I bought my hat.
• Vancouver, which is in western Canada , is a beautiful city.

Structure #4: Compound-Complex

A compound-complex sentence has the following:

• two independent clauses joined a coordinating conjunction
• a dependent clause

The dependent clause can be anywhere in the sentence. Here are some examples:

• She took out her umbrella because it was raining , and then she walked home.
• I don't like exercising, but I'll do it if I have to .
• The man who was on the other side of the street waved, so I looked at him.

Question: What about Compound-Compound? Complex-Complex?

Technically, you can make more complicated types of of sentence structures, for example:

• She arrived and then he arrived and then I arrived so we were all there.

Is this Compound-Compound-Compound sentence? No. It's still just called a Compound sentence. Also, it's a badly written sentence.

• Before she went home , she cleaned up the area where she had worked .

Is this a Complex-Complex sentence? No. It's still called a complex sentence, even though there are two dependent clauses.

Why is all this important? What sentence structures should I use?

Spoken English tends to mainly use simple and compound sentences, but higher-level writing (e.g. academic and business communications) should use some complex structures. A complex sentence can be more efficient because it can contain several ideas in the same sentence. Also, using conjunctions such although or because  helps the reader understand how ideas relate to each other, which makes your writing more cohesive . 

Still, w riting well doesn't mean only using long and complicated sentences. Writing is most effective when it's clear. This can be achieved by using short, simple sentences, such as this one. I n short, writing effectively and efficiently means using a variety of sentence structures.

^ By the way, the above two paragraphs contained the following:

• Spoken English tends to mainly use simple and compound sentences, but higher-level writing (e.g. academic and business communications) should use a variety of structures (i.e. simple, compound, and complex).
• A complex sentence can be more efficient because it can contain several ideas in the same sentence.
• Also, using conjunctions such ' although ' or ' because ' helps the reader understand how ideas relate to each other , which makes your writing more cohesive .
• Writing is most effective when it's clear.
• Still, writing well doesn't mean only using long and complicated sentences. 
• This can be achieved by using short, simple sentences, such as this one.
• I n short, writing effectively and efficiently means using a variety of sentence structures.
• Compound-complex : 0

Do you think you understand? Try our exercises below!

Exercises #1: Identifying Sentence Structures

• The man smiled and laughed.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• The man smiled, but I did not know why.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• When the cat is away, the mice will play.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• The answer is not known.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• If people would like to apply, they can call 1-800-493-222 or they can e-mail [email protected] .  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• He asked me a question so I answered.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• I e-mailed the company, and they responded immediately, which surprised me. Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• Simple (Independent clause) Note: "and laughed" is not a clause because it does not contain another subject and verb. Therefore, this sentence only has one clause
• Compound (Independent clause + coordinating conjunction + Independent clause)
• Complex (Dependent clause + Independent clause)
• Simple (Independent clause)
• Compound-complex (Dependent clause, independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause)
• Compound-complex (Independent clause, coordinating conjunction, independent clause, dependent clause)

Exercises #2: Identifying Sentence Structures

• The train station was still closed but a few coffee shops were open.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• Some people only need a computer to do their jobs, so they can easily work from home. Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• On the second weekend of July last year, I went camping. Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• As population increases, food shortages become more common and quality of life can decrease.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• The price of the service increased by 20%, but because the company did not inform its customers, many people demanded an explanation.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• Many students didn't understand, so their teacher explained the answer very clearly and slowly.  Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
• Simple (Independent clause) Note: "On the second weekend of July last year" is a prepositional phrase, not a clause because there is no subject or verb.
• Compound-Complex (Dependent clause, Independent clause + coordinating conjunction Independent clause)
• Compound-Complex (Independent clause, coordinating conjunction, dependent clause, independent clause)
• Compound (Independent clause, coordinating conjunction, Independent clause)

If you have any questions about sentence structures, please leave a comment below or visit our forums .

-- Created by Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com (Copyright)

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38 comments on “ Four Sentence Structures: Simple, Compound, Complex, & Compound-Complex ”

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Thanks a lot for the notes, the clarifications, the remakes, and the exercises. But I also heard there are somewhere that there are “compound-complex-complex” sentences with more than two independent, and more than two dependent clauses in them. What do you take of this? Regards.

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when you call to your U.S. bank you may fine yourself speaking to a customer service representative who is sitting in the Philippines or Puerto Rico and when you need technical support for your home computer you will probably get help from a programmer in New Delhi where’s the independent clause an the dependent clause?

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In some compound sentences, I didnt find a comma. I was figuring out , if we write a compound sentence without putting a comma, is it OK?

Hello. Some English teachers would say that you should have a comma before the coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) in a compound sentence. However, it’s not really needed, and if you don’t put one, it’s not a mistake.

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Complex Sentence

What is a complex sentence.

• We must not swim where the seals are.
• The monkeys move to the trees when the clouds darken.

Table of Contents

Examples of Complex Sentences

Subordinating conjunctions in complex sentences, why complex sentences are important, video lesson.

• Stay in the bath until the phone rings.
• Both the cockroach and the bird would get along very well without us , although the cockroach would miss us most. (Joseph Wood Krutch, 1893-1970)
• Leave while you can.
• When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right . When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong . (Arthur C. Clarke)

• We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. (Dalai Lama)
• Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something. (Athenian philosopher Plato)
• Even though he's a moron, I supported Tyson Fury . (Boxer David Haye)

The Four Types of Sentence Structure

A Complex Sentence

• The human brain never stops working until you stand up to speak in public.

A Compound Sentence

• I always wanted to be somebody , but I should have been more specific . (Jane Wagner)

A Simple Sentence

• Curiosity killed the cat .

A Compound-Complex Sentence

• I stopped believing in Santa Claus when he asked for my autograph in a department store, but I still want to believe in him .

(Issue 1) Use a comma after a fronted adverbial.

• I became a people-watcher when I lost all my friends. (Singer Taylor Swift)
• When I lost all my friends, I became a people-watcher .
• If it is, it is . If it's not, it's not . (Singer Ziggy Marley)
• It is if it is. It's not if it's not.
• When your adverbial is at the front, use a comma.
• Don't use a comma when your adverbial is at the back.

(Issue 2) Uh oh, there's more to Issue 1.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Finishing or Having finished

My friend says that "Finishing her homework, she went for a walk." is wrong.

She thinks that this sentence implies that she is trying to finish her homework while taking a walk. If the girl went for a walk because she is already done with her homework, then it should be "Having finished her homework, she went for a walk." she says.

• sentence-structure
• past-participles
• present-participles

• Why does your friend think it's wrong? –  phoog Commented Mar 19, 2016 at 4:50
• 1 I think both sentences are equivalent. There may be a nuanced difference, with the two actions (finishing homework and going for a walk) linked more closely in the original than in your friend's final version. The original doesn't carry the sense that the homework was finished during the walk. That would require adding "while" - e.g. She went for a walk while finishing her homework . –  Lawrence Commented Mar 19, 2016 at 13:04

2 Answers 2

While I agree that:

Having finished her homework, she went for a walk .

is more clear, I think context and common sense would tell us that the original sentence means the same thing:

Finishing her homework, she went for a walk .

Many writing guides tell us to avoid dangling modifiers , and sentences with this same structure are used as examples:

Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud. Having finished the assignment, the TV was turned on. Hoping to excuse my lateness, the note was written and given to my teacher.

However, the original doesn't suffer from this problem, because the subject is clearly identified:

Finishing her homework, she went for a walk.

Insofar as general conversation goes, I think the original sentence would be fine and your friend overly pedantic. On the other hand, if you were writing a formal manuscript, you might want to follow your friend's advice. In a writing advice column , one editor makes this same point:

Unlocking the door, she left the room. Do you see why [this sentence doesn't work]? You can’t unlock the door and leave the room at the same time.

• @Alan - I agree. However, if I heard someone say that sentence, I would understand what they meant, and I wouldn't correct them. Hence the difference in acceptability between formal writing and informal conversation. Related . Put another way: Yes, the original is "wrong," but a lot of native speakers would have to really think about it to notice or figure out why. –  J.R. ♦ Commented Mar 20, 2016 at 4:21
• @AlanCarmack - I was merely answering the question as asked: My friend says, "Finishing her homework, she went for a walk." is wrong . I just think "wrong" is a bit of a strong word for it. Had the friend said it's "problematic" or "in need of editing," I would agree with the friend. And the question doesn't say if we are referring to conversational English or written English, so I tried to answer from both perspectives. –  J.R. ♦ Commented Mar 20, 2016 at 10:11
• @AlanC - Of course it's not bad to "really think" about grammar. But I stll think we can make allowances in conversational English. (Technically, Lou Costello should have said, "I pick up the ball, and I throw it to whom ?" but we let that one go – naturally.) –  J.R. ♦ Commented Mar 20, 2016 at 11:35
• I've had to edit my answer to come into agreement with you. –  Alan Carmack Commented Apr 19, 2016 at 1:02
• I removed some leading spaces in this answer as an edit, so I could upvote it. No text was changed. –  Alan Carmack Commented Jul 18, 2016 at 4:10

Thomas Hardy writes:

Oak was amused, perhaps a little astonished, and hanging up the hat in his hut, went again among his ewes.

Note 'Oak' is a surname here (e.g. Mr Oak or Gabriel Oak ), and this quote comes from Far from the Madding Crowd .

We can highlight the relevant part of the sentence as

hanging up the hat in his hut, [he] went again among his ewes.

This sentence is parallel to the one you ask about. It is clear from common sense and the sentence construction that Oak first hung up his hat and then went out among his ewes (female sheep).

Hardy could have used having hung up but he didn't. And this should provide at least one example from real English to show your friend.

By sentence construction, we read English left to right and word order is important.

The sentence

She finished her homework and went for a walk.

would naturally be taken, without anything else to hint to the contrary, to mean that she first finished her homework and then went for a walk.

An argument can be made that the word order (rather, phrase order) helps determine the meaning in the sentence you ask about, and in the one Hardy writes.

To show this let's reverse the order of phrases.

She went for a walk, finishing her homework.

It is natural to take the two actions as occurring at the same time, especially since both going for a walk and finishing her homework can take a long time.

• On the surface, your answer and mine might seem to disagree, but I definitely concur with your conclusions. –  J.R. ♦ Commented Mar 22, 2016 at 9:37

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Complex Sentences: A Crash Course With Examples

General Education

What makes someone a “good” writer? While there are lots of answers to that question, one thing most great writers do is vary their sentence structure. They mix long, flowing sentences with short, powerful ones to communicate their points. 

But don’t worry: you can learn to do this, too! It starts with understanding different types of sentences and their structures. One type of sentence you’ve probably heard of that can add variety and depth to your writing is a complex sentence. But what are complex sentences, exactly? 

We’re here to help you understand exactly what complex sentences are and why they’re important by covering the following in this article: 

• Answering the question, “What is a complex sentence?”
• Discussing when to use complex sentences
• Reviewing the different parts of complex sentences 
• Explaining the difference between complex sentences, compound sentences, and compound-complex sentences 

Ready to become a complex sentence wizard? Then let's get started!

What Is A Complex Sentence? 

Here’s a pretty straightforward complex sentence definition: a complex sentence is made up of two clauses, one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.  

And that’s it! That’s the definition of a complex sentence. But it’s probably pretty obvious that in order to write complex sentences of your own, you need to understand what a clause is. A clause is a part of a sentence that contains a subject and a verb . The subject is the person or entity taking action in the clause, and the verb is the action that the subject is taking. These clauses fall into two category types: independent clauses and dependent clauses. 

Independent Clauses

Both independent clauses and dependent clauses --the types of clauses that make up complex sentences--have a subject and a verb . But how do you know when you’re dealing with an independent clause vs. a dependent clause? Here’s the difference between the two: an independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, and a dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.  

In other words, if you broke up a complex sentence into its individual clauses, the independent clause could make a new sentence all by itself. Here are some examples of complex sentences where we’ve bolded the independent clause.

Independent Clause #1: Because she was late for school, Cora has detention this afternoon. 

Independent Clause #2: We’re definitely going to the Lizzo concert even though it’s supposed to rain. 

See how the bold part of the sentence, i.e. the independent clause, can make a sentence all by itself? 

Dependent Clauses

But if you tried to make the dependent clause into its own sentence, it wouldn’t make any sense on its own. Take a look at the not bolded sections of the sentences above. If you walked up to your friend and said “Because she was late for school,” your friend would have no idea what you were talking about! That’s because you need an independent clause to understand what a dependent clause means. In other words, dependent clauses rely on independent clauses in order to make sense! 

Dependent clauses don’t make sense on their own because they begin with something called a subordinating conjunction that subordinates, or makes the clause dependent on the independent clause . Here’s a list of subordinating conjunctions to help you identify where a dependent clause begins in a complex sentence: 

Now, let’s take a look at some of those subordinating conjunctions in action. In the examples below, we’ve put the dependent clause in bold and underlined the subordinating conjunction: 

Dependent Clause #1: After the store closed, the manager locked the doors. 

Dependent Clause #2: They checked for an oil leak before they started the car . 

Dependent Clause #3: Even though they waited for an hour , their food never came. 

See how the subordinating conjunction helps us find the dependent clauses? Knowing what to look for makes finding a dependent clause a lot easier. 

Independent Clauses + Dependent Clauses = Complex Sentences

Thee three examples above also show us how dependent clauses need to be paired with independent clauses for them to make sense. The independent clauses (which aren’t bolded) reveal what happened after the store closed, what they did or what happened before they started the car, and what did or didn’t happen even though they waited for an hour. 

And that’s why dependent clauses can’t stand alone--they need an independent clause to go with them in order to form a complete thought, which creates a complex sentence!

We’re going to look at more examples of dependent clauses, independent clauses, and how they come together to form complex sentences in a bit, but let’s talk about when to use complex sentences first.

When to Use Complex Sentences

Maybe you aren’t sure when it’s appropriate or necessary to use a complex sentence in your own writing. One way to decide when to use a complex sentence is to think about what meaning or information you want to convey.  

When you use simple sentences, it’s difficult to convey much more information than a single action that a single subject took. But when you use complex sentences, you can convey cause and effect, the progression of events, and other critical information. You can also use complex sentences to elaborate on a claim, compare and contrast ideas, and combine ideas that are similar into one point. You can see how a complex sentence can add clarity that a simple sentence can’t in this example: 

Simple Sentence: I’m going swimming! 

Complex Sentence: I’m going swimming even though there are sharks in the water! 

Another reason to use complex sentences is sentence variety, which is one way you can take your writing to the next level . Sentence variety is when you use different types of sentence structures in your writing in a strategic, intentional way . A piece of writing that is made up of varied sentence structures can be much more engaging for people to read. Writing that doesn’t strategically use a variety of sentences can often strike readers as boring and monotonous, and no writer wants that!

Here’s an example of a paragraph that doesn’t have sentence variety . This paragraph is only made up of simple sentences , which consist of a subject, a verb, and a predicate. These three elements come together to create one independent clause: 

I went to the store on Thursday. I bought chips and salsa. I drove home. I ate the chips and salsa. I watched TV. I got tired at midnight. I went to bed. 

You see how robotic and choppy that paragraph is? That’s because it’s made up of one type of sentence only--simple sentences. Creating sentence variety by incorporating some complex sentences could help this paragraph have better flow , and someone reading this paragraph would be less likely to get frustrated or bored. 

The example paragraph above would sound a bit different if the writer incorporated complex sentences. Here’s what the paragraph above could sound like if some of the simple sentences were rewritten as complex sentence s: 

I went to the store on Thursday because I wanted to buy some chips and salsa. After I drove home, I ate the chips and salsa. I watched TV until I got tired at midnight. I went to bed.  

Incorporating complex sentences lets you combine similar ideas, express cause and effect, and clarify ideas by adding important details. And as an added bonus: complex sentences make this paragraph much more pleasant to read. 

Just remember: if you aren’t sure when to use complex sentences, just think about what type of writing you’re doing, what your goals are for your writing, and check what you’ve already written for sentence variety. That should help you decide when it could be effective to incorporate a complex sentence!

3 Complex Sentence Examples

Let’s look at three complex sentence examples to help you get a better idea of what a complex sentence looks like, what the parts of a complex sentence are, and how to break down complex sentences into their parts so you can identify them on your own in the future!

Example #1: Independent Clause, Dependent Clause

While complex sentences must have one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, the clauses can go in any order. Here’s an example of a complex sentence where the independent clause comes first, and the dependent clause comes second: 

I didn’t go to the store because I already had chips and salsa at home. 

Can you tell that there are two clauses in that sentence, and where one clause ends and the next begins? Let’s break the sentence down into the independent clause and the dependent clause: 

Independent clause: I didn’t go to the store

Dependent clause: because I already had chips and salsa at home. 

The independent clause-- I didn’t go to the store -- can stand alone as a sentence because it forms a complete thought. The dependent clause-- because I already had chips and salsa at home --can’t stand alone as a sentence. It doesn’t form a complete thought! 

Also note that there isn’t a comma before the subordinating conjunction. In most instances, you don’t need to separate a dependent clause with a comma when it comes after an independent clause!

Example #2: Dependent Clause, Independent Clause

Next, we’ll look at a second complex sentence where the dependent clause comes first, and the independent clause comes second. This type of complex sentence is called a periodic sentence --a sentence where the essential information doesn’t come until the end of the sentence. 

Complex sentences that place the essential information at the end of the sentence can create a sense of suspense in your writing! We’ll use the same sentence from above so you can get an idea of how you can rewrite sentences for sentence variety:

Because I already had chips and salsa at home, I didn’t go to the store. 

You already know which clause is the dependent clause-- because I already had chips and salsa at home-- and which clause is the independent clause-- I didn’t go to the store. But do you see how the clauses in complex sentences can be rearranged and the sentence still makes sense? This is something to keep in mind when you’re trying to add variety to your writing: you can move the clauses around in complex sentences!

One last tip: when a dependent clause comes before an independent clause, you separate them with a comma. 

Example #3: Two Dependent Clauses

We’ve looked at two similar complex sentence examples, so now let’s look at a third example that’s a little bit different from the first two: 

Even though I was nervous about the date, I had a really great time after we started talking. 

We know this is a complex sentence because it’s made up of a dependent clause and an independent clause. But this complex sentence has two dependent clauses . Let’s break this complex sentence down into its three clauses so we’re on the same page: 

Dependent clause: Even though I was nervous about the date,

Independent clause: I had a really great time

Dependent clause: after we started talking. 

Some complex sentences include multiple dependent clauses to add more context to the essential information conveyed by the independent clause , like in the example above!

Now let’s talk about how to use those commas. Remember: complex sentences that begin with a dependent clause need a comma between the dependent and independent clauses , and sentences that begin with an independent clause don’t need a comma separating the independent clause and the dependent clause. 

In this case, we need to use both comma rules. To make this grammatically correct, we need to add a comma after the first dependent clause (since it comes before the independent one). We don’t need a comma between the independent clause and the second dependent clause since the dependent clause comes second! 

Now that we’ve talked through complex sentences and looked at some complex sentence examples, let’s discuss the difference between two types of sentences that are commonly confused with each other: compound sentences and complex sentences. 

Compound Vs. Complex Sentences: What’s the Difference? 

Complex sentences are sometimes confused with compound sentences, but they aren’t the same thing! We defined complex sentences as sentences that are made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause, but what’s a compound sentence?  

A compound sentence is made up of at least two independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction (remember that for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so are coordinating conjunctions). Unlike complex sentences, compound sentences don’t have a dependent clause . And, unlike complex sentences, the two clauses that make up a compound sentence can be separated and made into their own, stand-alone sentences. 

Put another way, you could also describe compound sentences as being made up of two simple sentences.

Let’s look at a couple of examples of compound sentences so you can see how they’re different from complex sentences! Here’s one example of a compound sentence:  

I cooked dinner, but I didn’t set the table. 

The sentence above is a compound sentence because it’s made up of the following independent clauses: 

Independent Clause #1 : I cooked dinner,

Independent Clause #2: but I didn’t set the table. 

Each of those clauses could stand alone as simple sentences, right? Both clauses also convey information that is essential to understanding the full meaning of the sentence. They’re also separated by the coordinating conjunction, “but.”

Though the independent clauses in compound sentences are often separated by a comma and coordinating conjunction, the clauses in a compound sentence can also be separated by a semicolon, which means that there’s no need for a coordinating conjunction.

Here’s an example of a compound sentence with independent clauses separated by a semicolon: 

The cat ran away; the children were devastated. 

Just like in the first example of a compound sentence, the two (really sad!) independent clauses in the sentence above can function as sentences by themselves. They’re just separated by a semicolon instead of a comma and coordinating conjunction. 

So, to tell the difference between complex and compound sentences, you just need to remember that a complex sentence is made up of an independent and a dependent clause, and a compound sentence is made up of independent clauses and no dependent clauses!

Next, we’ll look at another type of complex sentence: the compound-complex sentence. 

What Compound-Complex Sentences Are (And When to Use Them)

In addition to complex sentences and compound sentences, there are also compound-complex sentences . Since this type of sentence is named after both compound and complex sentences, it makes sense that a compound-complex sentence would combine some of the characteristics of complex and compound sentences, right? That’s pretty much exactly what it does! 

A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses (like a compound sentence) and one or more dependent clauses (like a complex sentence). 

Since compound-complex sentences combine some of the components of complex sentences and compound sentences, you might be wondering whether compound-complex sentences count as complex sentences and as compound sentences. Technically, yes! Since compound-complex sentences include all of the minimum clauses required to make a complex sentence and a compound sentence, you could say that compound-complex sentences count as both . But compound-complex sentences go above and beyond the required components of compound and complex sentences, so that’s why they need to be called by their proper name: compound-complex sentences. 

Since compound-complex sentences contain more clauses and types of clauses, they’re a more sophisticated type of sentence. You can use compound-complex sentences to add greater complexity and depth to your writing style . Compound-complex sentences really allow you to infuse your writing with detail and context, like explaining when something happened, why it happened, and/or how it happened. 

Because you can include multiple independent and dependent clauses in compound-complex sentences, you’re able to give your reader even more essential and supplementary information about a scenario or story in a single sentence . This can be an important tool for making sure your readers understand what you’re trying to say. (They’re also a great way to add sentence variety to your writing.) 

3 Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences

To help you get a better idea of what this type of sentence looks like in action, we’ve pulled together three compound-complex sentence examples and broken them down so you can see the different parts of compound-complex sentences and how they work together.

Example #1: Ending With Two Independent Clauses 

Though Jada was afraid, she gathered her courage and she opened the door. 

We know that compound-complex sentences contain at least three clauses, so let’s break down the clauses in that sentence:

The sentence above qualifies as a compound-complex sentence because it’s composed of at least one dependent clause and two independent clauses. 

Example #2: Starting With Two Independent Clauses

Khalid got on the road early, but he arrived late because he hit rush hour traffic.   

This example of a compound-complex sentence has three clauses, but in contrast to the first example, it begins with two independent clauses that are separated by a coordinating conjunction, “but.” Instead of beginning with a dependent clause, this sentence ends with a dependent clause that is introduced with the subordinating conjunction “because.” Here’s a breakdown of the clauses in the sentence above:  

Independent clause : Khalid got on the road early, 

Independent clause : but he arrived late 

Dependent clause: because he hit rush hour traffic. 

Now, remember, most of the time, you don’t need a comma to separate independent clauses and dependent clauses if the dependent clause comes after the independent clause , like in the example above. 

Example #3: Two Independent Clauses and Two Dependent Clauses

After everyone went home, though the kitchen was a mess, I left the dirty dishes out and I went to bed. 

This example includes two independent clauses--like the first two examples- -but differs from the first two examples because it includes two dependent clauses . 

It’s pretty easy to pick out where the clauses are split up in the example above because of the commas, but let’s go ahead and break it down: 

Dependent Clause: After everyone went home, 

Dependent Clause: though the kitchen was a mess, 

Independent Clause: I left the dirty dishes out, 

Independent Clause: and I went to bed. 

In this case, you can find the dependent clauses by looking for subordinating conjunctions (“after” and “though”). The independent clauses are easier to find, especially since they’re joined by “and”...which you now know is a coordinating conjunction! 

As you can see, compound-complex sentences can start getting pretty long depending on how many clauses you include! But that’s actually one of the perks of compound-complex sentences: they allow you to effectively communicate an extended idea or part of a story or argument. This means that compound-complex sentences can play an important role in sentence variety in your writing, just like complex sentences and compound sentences. 

6 Question Quiz: Practice Your New Sentence Knowledge!

We’ve covered a lot of info about complex, compound, and compound-complex sentences, so it might be helpful to review what you’ve learned. 

Take a crack at answering the following six questions about the types of sentences we’ve covered , and see if you can pick out the correct examples of each type of sentence as well!

1) What’s the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?

a) An independent clause has a subject and a verb, but a dependent clause doesn’t. b) An independent clause can stand-alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause can’t. c) An independent clause always includes an adjective, but a dependent clause doesn’t.

2) What is a complex sentence? 

a) A complex sentence is made up of two independent clauses.  b) A complex sentence is made up of two dependent clauses. c) A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. 

3) What’s the definition of a compound-complex sentence?

a) A compound-complex sentence is made up of at least two dependent clauses and at least one independent clause.  b) A compound-complex sentence is made up of at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. c) A compound-complex sentence is made up of two independent clauses and two dependent clauses. 

4) Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence? 

a) I went for a quick walk while the sun was out. b) I waited on the sun to come out, and I went for a quick walk. c) Though it had been drizzling all morning, I waited for the sun to come out, and I went for a quick walk.

5) Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence? 

a) We played hard, and we won the game.  b) We won the game because we played hard. c) We won the game, we played hard. 

6) Which of the following is an example of a compound-complex sentence?

a) After we went swimming, though we were tired, we went to the movies.  b) Though we were tired, we went to the movies, and we had a great time.  c) After we went swimming, we weren’t tired, we went to the movies.

So, how did you do? If you got B, C, B, A, A, and B, you totally aced it! 

If you didn’t, that’s okay: luckily for you, it’s easy to practice identifying complex sentences.  All you have to do is look at real-life writing examples like books, academic articles, or sample papers. They’ll contain a variety of sentence types, so you’ll have plenty of practice picking out complex sentences. 

What's Next?

When it comes to sentences, there’s a lot to learn. This post will help you find sentence fragments and run-ons in your writing , and this post will give you general strategies for identifying sentence errors .

Knowing your way around sentence structure is key to writing killer admissions essays. Did you know that we have comprehensive guides for tackling admissions essays for the nation’s top colleges? We have comprehensive guides to admissions essays for Harvard , Notre Dame , USC , Yale , and more!

But before you tackle admissions essays , you’ll have to knock your SAT and ACT essays out of the park . Check out our comprehensive guides to acing your SAT essays and your ACT essays to set yourself up for success.

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Complex Sentence Worksheet

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Complex sentences are made up of two clauses—an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Independent clauses are similar to simple sentences. They can stand alone and function as a sentence:

• We didn't pass the test. 
• Angela won the competition.

Dependent clauses , however, need to be used together with an independent clause. Here are some dependent clauses with independent clauses. Notice how they seem incomplete:

• Although he is ready.
• When it is done. 

Independent clauses are combined with dependent clauses to make sense. 

• We'll go to the bank because we need some money. 
• As soon as we land, I'll give you a call. 

Notice that dependent clauses can come first. In this case, we use a comma. 

• Before she comes, we'll eat some lunch.
• Because he's late for work, he took a taxi. 

Writing Complex Sentences Using Subordinating Conjunctions

Complex sentences are written by using subordinating conjunctions to connect the two clauses.

Showing Opposition or Unexpected Results

Use these three subordinating conjunctions to show that there is a pro and con or to contrast statements.

• although / even though / though
• Although I felt he was wrong, I decided to trust him.
• Sharon started looking for a new job even though she was currently employed.
• Though I couldn't understand a word, we had a great time!

Showing Cause and Effect

To give reasons use these conjunctions that keep the same meaning.

• because / since / as
• Since you need some help, I'll come over this afternoon.
• Henry felt he needed to take some time off because he had been working so hard.
• The parents paid for extra lessons as the children were very gifted.

Expressing Time

There are a number of subordinating conjunctions that express time. Note that the simple tense (present simple or past simple) is generally used in dependent clauses beginning with time subordinators. 

when / as soon as / before / after / by

• By the time you get this letter, I will have left for New York.
• I used to play a lot of tennis when I was a teenager.
• We had a wonderful dinner after she had arrived.

Expressing Conditions

Use these subordinators to express that something depends on a condition.

if / unless / in the case that

• If I were you, I would take my time with that project.
• They won't come next week unless you ask them to do so.
• In the case that he isn't available, we'll look for another consultant.

Complex Sentence Worksheets

Provide a fitting subordinator to fill the gaps in these sentences. 

• I'm going to the bank _______ I need some money.
• I made lunch _________ I got home.
• ________ it's raining, she's going for a walk in the park. 
• ________ she finishes her homework soon, she will fail the class.
• He decided to trust Tim ______ he was an honest man.
• _______ we went to school, she decided to investigate the situation.
• Jennifer decided to leave Tom _______ he was too worried about his job.
• Dennis bought a new jacket __________ he had received one as a gift last week.
• Brandley claims that there will be trouble _____ he doesn't complete the job.
• Janice will have finished the report ____ the time you receive the letter.
• after / when / as soon as 
• before / when 
• if / in the case that

Use subordinating conjunctions (though, if, when, because, etc.) to connect the sentences into one complex sentence.

• Henry needs to learn English. I will teach him.
• It was raining outside. We went for a walk.
• Jenny needs to ask me. I will buy it for her.
• Yvonne played golf extremely well. She was very young.
• Franklin wants to get a new job. He is preparing for job interviews.
• I'm writing a letter, and I'm leaving. You will find it tomorrow.
• Marvin thinks he will buy the house. He just wants to know what his wife thinks.
• Cindy and David had breakfast. They left for work.
• I really enjoyed the concert. The music was too loud.
• Alexander has been working sixty hours a week. There is an important presentation next week.
• I usually work out at the gym early in the morning. I leave for work at eight a.m.
• The car was extremely expensive. Bob didn't have much money. He bought the car.
• Dean sometimes goes to the cinema. He enjoys going with his friend Doug. Doug visits once a month.
• I prefer to watch TV by streaming over the internet. It allows me to watch what I want when I want.
• Sometimes it happens that we have a lot of rain. I put the chairs on the patio in the garage when we have rain.

There are other variations that are possible than those provided in the answers.  Ask your teacher for other ways  to connect these to write complex sentences.

• As Henry needs to learn English, I will teach him.
• We went for a walk even though it was raining.
• If Jenny asks me, I will buy it for her.
• Yvonne played golf extremely well when she was young.
• Because Franklin wants to get a new job, he is preparing for job interviews.
• I'm writing you this letter which you will find after I leave. 
• Unless his wife doesn't like the house, Marvin will buy it.
• After Cindy and David had eaten breakfast, they left for work.
• I really enjoyed the concert although the music was too loud.
• As Alexander has an important presentation next week, he has been working sixty hours a week.
• I usually work out at the gym before I leave for work at eight.
• Though Bob didn't have much money, he bought the extremely expensive car.
• If Doug visits, they go to the cinema.
• Since it allows me to watch what I want when I want, I prefer to watch TV by streaming over the internet.
• If it rains a lot, I put the chairs on the patio in the garage.
• Complex Sentence Writing
• Compound-Complex Sentence Worksheet
• Compound Sentence Practice for ESL and EFL Students
• Sentence Type Basics for English Learners
• Writing Descriptive Paragraphs
• Sentence Connectors and Sentences
• How to Use Sentence Connectors to Express Complex Ideas
• Sentence Connectors: Showing Opposition in Written English
• Sentence Patterns
• Parallelism in Writing for English Learners
• How to Use Sentence Connectors to Show Contrast
• Showing Cause / Effect in Written English
• Showing Addition in Written English
• Beginning Writing Short Writing Assignments
• 3 Tips to Improve Writing in English
• Personal Descriptions

Basic Grammar and Punctuation: Compound Sentences

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About Compound Sentences

Once you can identify a basic sentence, you can join or separate your sentences to best communicate your ideas.

A compound sentence joins two or more sentences that have related ideas of equal importance. The two sentences go together. Each sentence or independent clause must still have a subject and a verb .

For example:

She wanted spinach salad; he wanted a hamburger.

He went to the party, but she stayed home.

One way to create a compound sentence is with a semi-colon .

Not a common practice, a semi-colon is used only where ideas are very closely related.

She loves me; she loves me not.

They say it's your birthday; it's my birthday too! - Paul McCartney

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. - Peter Drucker

Another way to create a compound sentence is with a coordinating conjunction .

Coordinating conjunctions are sometimes referred to as FANBOYS. Notice how a comma is used with a coordinating conjunction.

F or – He couldn't go home, for he had no place to go. 

A nd – I took a taxi, and she drove home.

N or – He didn't want help, nor did she offer it.

B ut – I wanted to go late, but she wanted to go on time.

O r – She cooked dinner, or she went out to a restaurant.

Y et – She owned a car, yet she didn't know how to drive it.

S o – She had to go, so she called a friend to drive her.

Common problems with compound sentences include commas splices.

A comma alone is not enough to connect two sentences.

Wrong – I was tired from working late, I had to go to class anyway.

Right – I was tired from working late ; I had to go to class anyway.

Right – I was tired from working late , but I had to go to class anyway.

Common problems with compound sentences include fused sentences.

Sentences cannot just run together. They must be joined with a semi-colon or a coordinating conjunction.

Wrong – My brother just graduated from high school he will attend St. Petersburg College.

Right – My brother just graduated from high school ; he will attend St. Petersburg College.

Right – My brother just graduated from high school , so he will attend St. Petersburg College.

Dual construction vs. the coordinating conjunction - or when to use the comma!

When combining sentences into a compound sentence, you need a comma before the coordinating conjunction.

I like peanut butter, and I like jelly.

He eats macaroni, but he won't eat cheese.

BUT when combining two nouns or verbs, you don't need a comma.

I like peanut butter and jelly.

He eats macaroni or cheese but not both.

A special use of semi-colons - the Conjunctive Adverb

Sometimes mistaken for a FANBOY, a conjunctive adverb actually joins two sentences with a semi-colon AND has additional punctuation inside the second sentence.

I hate spinach; however, I love broccoli.

I want to graduate with honors; furthermore, I want to go to law school.

I don't want to go out tonight; besides , I have homework to do.

 Some common conjunctive adverbs include accordingly, also, however, furthermore, nevertheless, consequently, finally, likewise , and meanwhile .

More About Compound Sentences

• Commas vs. Semicolons in Compound Sentences
• Compound sentences
• Compound Sentence Structure

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Complex Sentences: 50 Examples

What is a complex sentence?

A  complex sentence  contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

An  independent clause  contains a subject and verb , and can stand alone as a complete sentence:

• Independent clause: I love going outside.

A  dependent clause also contains a subject and verb , but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Instead, it ADDS information to the sentence:

• Dependent clause: when the weather is warm.

One independent clause + one dependent clause = a complex sentence:

• I love going outside when the weather is warm.

Dependent clauses often start with  subordinating conjunctions,  for example:

• provided that

Subordinating conjunctions often show a cause-and-effect relationship or a relationship of time/place:

• Cause and effect relationship: The baseball game was canceled because it was raining.
• Time relationship: When I get home from work, I always take off my shoes.
• Place relationship: Make sure to put on sunscreen wherever your skin is exposed.

Learn more about subordinating conjunctions.

Download this lesson!

Difference between a compound sentence and a complex sentence

A  compound sentence   contains two  independent  clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet):

• I’m happy, but my kids are always complaining. ( “I’m happy” can be a complete sentence. “My kids are always complaining” can also be a complete sentence. They are joined by the coordinating conjunction “but”)
• The blue jacket cost over $100 , and he wears it every day . (“The blue jacket cost over $100” is a complete sentence. “He wears it every day” is a complete sentence. They are joined by the coordinating conjunction “and”)

A  complex sentence  contains one independent clause and one or more  dependent clauses,  joined by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun (that, who, which):

• I’m happy because we won the game. (“I’m happy” can be a complete sentence. “Because we won the game” cannot be a sentence by itself.)
• The blue jacket, which I gave him for Christmas, cost over $100. (“The blue jacket cost over $100” is a complete sentence. “which I gave him for Christmas” is NOT a complete sentence. They are joined by the relative pronoun “which”)

Difference between a dependent clause and a prepositional phrase

Words like before, after, since, and until can begin either a dependent clause or a prepositional phrase.

The main difference is that a dependent clause has a subject and verb, but a prepositional phrase does not:

• I’ll wait here until you get back. (dependent clause: you = subject, get = verb)
• I’ll wait here until 5:30. (prepositional phrase: no subject/verb after “until”)
• He’s never been the same since he broke up with his girlfriend. (dependent clause: he = subject, broke up = verb)
• He’s never been the same since the car accident. (prepositional phrase: no subject/verb after “since”)

Complex Sentences: Simple Present Tense

The independent clause in bold , and the dependent clause is underlined:

• Although he works long hours, he always finds time to spend with his family.
• She always wears jewelry that matches her outfit.
• While my brother enjoys spicy food, I prefer milder flavors.
• Several crops grow here, even though it rarely rains in this region.
• Though he is talented, he often underestimates his own abilities.
• Although the company faces tough competition, it continues to thrive in the market.
• I think you’d like this book, since you love historical fiction.
• He always studies a lot before he takes a test.
• I sometimes walk to work, as long as the weather is good.
• My mother stays up late, whereas my father goes to bed early.

Complex Sentences: Simple Past Tense

• After she finished her studies, she traveled around Europe for six months.
• Although they were tired, they stayed up late to finish their projec t.
• He immediately called for help when he saw the accident.
• My kids often misbehaved whenever they had a babysitter.
• Since he sold his car, he had to take the bus to work.
• She didn’t ride the roller coasters, even though she was old enough to do so.
• When they arrived at the restaurant, they realized it had already closed.
• I stayed awake until my husband got home from work.
• Before he left his job, he wrote a number of training manuals.
• She performed very well on stage,  though she was quite nervous.

Complex Sentences: Future Tenses in the Independent Clause

• After I finish my degree, I will pursue a career in environmental conservation.
• She will visit her grandparents next weekend, as she hasn’t seen them in months.
• Once the project is complete, the company will launch its new product on the market.
• By the time I graduate, I will have traveled to at least five different countries.
• We’re going to clean the bathrooms after we’re done cleaning the kitchen.
• They will be driving to Florida since flights are too expensive.
• Electric cars will become more popular in a few years, even though they’re not very common now.
• I’m going to start preparing dinner before I leave for work.
• Once the renovations are finished, the house will be even more beautiful.
• I won’t lend you any more money  until you pay me back.

Complex Sentences: Continuous Verb Tenses in the Independent Clause

• While I was studying for my exam, my friends were watching a movie.
• They will be traveling to Europe while we are attending the conference.
• As the sun was setting , the children were playing in the park.
• I was cleaning the house all evening after I saw how dirty it was.
• I’ll be waiting for you at the  café   until you finish your meeting.

Complex Sentence Examples: Mixed Verb Tenses

• When I finish my work, I will join you for dinner.
• I had cleaned the whole house before we left for vacation.
• He couldn’t go to the party because he was feeling sick.
• I’m not buying anything else this month   since I’ve already spent too much.
• As soon as they receive the necessary materials, they will start the project.
• Once she finishes her degree, she plans to travel the world.
• I was exhausted because I had been working all day.
• Now that the rain has stopped, we can go outside.
• He will buy a new car once he saves enough money.
• Since she doesn’t have any prior experience, she decided to take a training course.

Complex Sentence Examples: Conditionals

Some of the most common complex sentences are conditional sentences like the examples below. Again, the independent clause (result) is in  bold,  and the dependent clause (condition) is  underlined.

• If it rains tomorrow, we will stay indoors and watch movies.
• She won’t pass the exam unless she studies a lot.
• If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
• He would have gone to the party if he hadn’t been so tired.
• If I had known about the event, I would have attended.
• She will be late if she doesn’t catch the early bus.
• If the children finish their chores , they can go to the park.
• We won’t eat a big dinner if we’re not very hungry.
• If you eat too much junk food, you will gain weight.
• She could earn more money if she had a better job.

Learn more about first conditional and second conditional.

More examples of sentence structures:

• Simple sentences: 50 examples
• Compound sentences: 50 examples
• Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

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Types of sentences, declarative sentence, interrogative sentence, imperative sentence, 28 comments.

Erin carine October 9, 2018, 11:25 am

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makala October 20, 2018, 7:25 pm

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hassan December 6, 2018, 11:28 am

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Amaka November 11, 2018, 5:29 pm

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Anonymous November 12, 2018, 5:13 am

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k03 November 27, 2018, 5:05 am

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Course: Grammar   >   Unit 8

Simple and compound sentences.

• Rearranging simple and compound sentences
• Complex sentences
• Compound-complex sentences
• Complex and compound-complex sentences

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Video transcript

Complex Sentences

Table of Contents

Introduction, overview of sentence types, complex sentences in english, understanding complex sentences, components of a complex sentence, a. independent and dependent clauses.

1. Independent Clauses:

3. Combining Dependent and Independent Clauses:

B. Using Subordinating Conjunctions or Relative Pronouns

Complex vs. compound sentences, understanding the difference, table: distinguishing between complex and compound sentences.

Complex Sentence Examples

Complex sentences with multiple dependent clauses, creating complex sentences: a step-by-step guide, common pitfalls in constructing complex sentences, 1. comma splices, 2. sentence fragments, 3. over-complication, why are complex sentences used, frequently asked questions, what is a complex sentence, how do you identify a complex sentence, what are some examples of complex sentences, why are complex sentences important in writing, how can i practice writing complex sentences, what are common mistakes to avoid with complex sentences.

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises
• Simple Compound Complex Sentences Exercises

Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Exercises

Having learnt about the different types of sentences, why not check how far you have understood their use. So, here are some exercises to test your understanding of the topic.

Table of Contents

Simple, compound and complex sentences – a short recap, exercise 1 – identify the type of sentence, exercise 2 – combine the sentences to form compound sentences, exercise 3 – combine the sentences to form complex sentences.

• Frequently Asked Questions on Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences in English

Before you start working on the exercises, take a few minutes to look at how each type of sentence is formed and used. A simple sentence is a short sentence consisting of a subject and a predicate. In other words, it can be said that a simple sentence is one main clause. It can also be a combination of a phrase and a clause.

A compound sentence is a sentence that has more than one main clause. It should have at least two main clauses and they can be combined using a coordinating conjunction or a conjunctive adverb ; whereas, a complex sentence should have a main clause and a subordinate clause. The two clauses can be combined using a subordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction .

Now, try out the following exercises to check your understanding.

Identify whether the following sentences are simple, compound or complex sentences. Also, mention which of the clauses is the main clause and the subordinate clause.

1. I did not know that this food was meant only for the staff.

2. She is innocent, so she has appealed to the court.

3. If you are not ready with the song, it is better to let them know.

4. She will come home or I will stay back at her place.

5. In the evening, I am going to the park.

6. The sun looks amazing today.

7. I remember the day that we met very well.

8. Nithi is not keeping well, yet she decided to go to work.

9. After they reach the hotel, they will inform us.

10. We are going to the park.

Answers for Exercise 1

Sentence Type – Complex sentence

Main Clause – I did not know

Subordinate Clause – That this food was meant only for the staff

Sentence Type – Compound sentence

Main Clause – She is innocent

Main Clause – She has appealed to the court

Sentence Type – Complex Sentence

Main Clause – It is better to let them know

Subordinate Clause – If you are not ready with the song

Sentence Type – Compound Sentence

Main Clause – She will come home

Main Clause – I will stay back at her place

Sentence Type – Simple Sentence

Main Clause – I am going to the park

Main Clause – The sun looks amazing today

Main Clause – I remember the day very well

Subordinate Clause – That we met

Main Clause – Nithi is not keeping well

Main Clause – She decided to go to work

Main Clause – They will inform us

Subordinate Clause – After they reach the hotel

Main Clause – We are going to the park

Combine the following sentences using a coordinating conjunction or a conjunctive adverb to form compound sentences.

1. My mother is sick. My mother is going to the doctor.

2. Jibin has gone to Hyderabad. Jibin has not found any jobs yet.

3. Nalini was not satisfied with her birthday dress. Nalini wore it anyway.

4. Jaffar called me yesterday. I was not able to attend his call.

5. Tina had to present the paper today. Nancy volunteered to do it.

6. It was raining the whole day. We decided to go to the park.

7. Firoz will pick you up. We will book a cab for you.

8. Nobody knew where to go. We asked some random people for directions to the hills.

9. Let them know. You will have to suffer the consequences.

10. My mom was cleaning the house. I helped with the plates.

Answers for Exercise 2

My mother is sick, so she is going to the doctor.

Jibin has gone to Hyderabad; but he has not found any jobs yet.

Nalini was not satisfied with her birthday dress; however, she wore it.

Jaffar called me yesterday, but I was not able to attend his call.

Tina had to present the paper today; instead, Nancy volunteered to do it.

It was raining the whole day; however, he decided to go to the park.

Firoz will pick you up, or we will book a cab for you.

Nobody knew where to go, so we asked some random people for directions to the hills.

Let them know or you will have to suffer the consequences.

My mom was cleaning the house; meanwhile I helped with the plates.

Combine the following sentences by making use of a subordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction to form complex sentences.

1. You speak up. Nobody is going to know.

2. You are the only friend. You taught me right from wrong.

3. I was not happy. I went to the reception for the sake of my friend.

4. You do not finish it. You will have to face the consequences.

5. I do not know the person. He owns a brand new Mercedes Benz.

6. My brother does not watch animation movies. My brother liked Kungfu Panda.

7. I don’t think I will be able to make it. I missed the bus.

8. You should do it. I will have to ask Praveen to do it.

9. There are no trains available. We took a flight.

10. Seetha finishes her work. Seetha will be on her way.

Answers for Exercise 3

Unless you speak up, nobody is going to know.

You are the only friend who taught me right from wrong.

Though I was not happy, I went to the reception for the sake of my friend.

If you do not finish it, you will have to face the consequences.

I do not know the person who owns a brand new Mercedes Benz

6. My brother does not watch animation movies. My brother liked Kung Fu Panda.

Even though my brother does not watch animation movies, he liked Kung Fu Panda.

I don’t think I will be able to make it because I missed the bus.

Either you should do it or I will have to ask Praveen to do it.

As there were no trains available, we took a flight.

As soon as Seetha finishes her work, she will be on her way.

Frequently Asked Questions on Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

What is a simple sentence.

A simple sentence is a short sentence consisting of a subject and a predicate. In other words, it can be said that a simple sentence is one main clause. It can also be a combination of a phrase and a clause.

What is a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is a sentence that has more than one main clause. It should have at least two main clauses and they can be combined using a coordinating conjunction or a conjunctive adverb.

What is a complex sentence?

A complex sentence should have a main clause and a subordinate clause. The two clauses can be combined using a subordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction.

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Pasco-Hernando State College

• Complex Sentences (Subordination)
• Punctuation
• Simple Sentences
• Compound Sentences (Coordination)
• Compound/Complex Sentences
• Problems with Sentences

Related Pages

• Commas After Introductory Words
• Commas Before Coordinating Conjunctions

What are Complex Sentences?

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause. Independent clauses can function as a complete sentence, while dependent clauses cannot. A dependent clause in a complex sentence must contain a subordinating conjunction . There are two ways to structure a complex sentence: beginning with the independent clause and beginning with the dependent clause.

Beginning a sentence with an independent clause

A complex sentence that begins with its independent clause requires a subordinating conjunction but not a comma.

• Complex sentence: Nick watched cartoons after he did his homework.
• Independent clause: Nick watched cartoons
• Dependent clause: after he did his homework

In the above example, the dependent clause contains the subordinating conjunction after .

Beginning a sentence with a dependent clause

A complex sentence that begins with its dependent clause requires both a subordinating conjunction and a comma. The subordinating conjunction will appear at the beginning of the dependent clause, and the comma will separate the two clauses.

• Complex sentence: After he did his homework , Nick watched cartoons.
• Dependent clause: After he did his homework

In the above example, the comma separates the dependent clause After he did his homework from the independent clause Nick watched cartoons .

Subordinating conjunctions

There are many subordinating conjunctions. Here is a list of some common ones:

• Even though

The subordinating conjunction determines what the relationship is between the independent clause and the dependent clause.

• Example: Nick watched cartoons after he did his homework.
• Example: Nick watched cartoons before he did his homework.

Notice how in the examples above, the subordinating conjunction changes the meaning of the sentence.

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