Complex SentenceWill Mani

Complex Sentences:• Complex Sentences

Before we talk about types of sentences in English, you need to understand a few terms:

What is a phrase ? What is a clause ?

Independent ? Dependent ?

What is a sentence ?

CoComplex Sentences mplex Sentences:

What is a phrase ? • A phrase is a group of words, but they are not complete thoughts.

Phrases cannot stand alone because they are missing either a subject or a main verb .

• For example: the dog in the park walks to school

Complex Sentences:What is a clause ?

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. Two types of clauses - independent and dependent .

Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences. Ex. The dog is brown.

Dependent clauses can not stand alone as complete sentences. Ex. Although the dog is brown

Complex Sentences:What is a sentence ?

• A sentence is a group of words with a subject and a verb that is a complete thought . It can stand alone, so it is also called an independent clause.

• For example: • The dog is brown. • She ate lunch in the park. • The girl walks to school.

Complex Sentences:• Complex Sentences Review: • Phrase - a group of words that are not complete thoughts and cannot

stand alone. It is missing either a subject or verb.

• Clause - a group of words with a subject and verb. Clauses can be either independent or dependent .

• Sentence - a group of words with a subject and a verb that is a complete thought.

Complex Sentences:

Complex Sentences Independent Clauses An independent clause ,

or sentence,

is a group of words with a subject and verb. It is a complete thought that CAN stand alone. For example: The dog is brown. She ate lunch in the park. The girl walks to school.

Independent Clause = Sentence

Complex Sentences:Complex Sentences

Dependent Clauses • A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. However, it

is NOT a complete thought; therefore, it can NOT stand alone as a complete sentence.

For example: Although the dog is brown As soon as she ate lunch in the park After the girl walks to school

Complex Sentences:• Now that you understand what phrases , clauses (dependent &

independent), and sentences are, we can talk about COMPLEX sentences.

3 Types of Sentences in English: Simple Sentences – The dog is brown . Compound Sentences – The dog is brown , but the cat is grey . Complex Sentences – Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful .

Complex Sentences:Complex Sentences

• A COMPLEX sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause.

For example: Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful . Before she ate lunch in the park , she bought a coffee . After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .

Complex Sentences:• Complex Sentences A dependent clause can NOT stand alone as a

compete sentence, so it must be attached to an independent clause .

Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful . Before she ate lunch in the park , she bought a coffee . After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .

Dependent clause + Independent clause = COMPLEX sentence

Complex Sentences:What words make a clause DEPENDENT?

• Subordinating Conjunctions* • Time: after, as soon as, before, since, until, when, whenever, while

Reason/Condition : because, since, as, if, whether • Place/Location : where, wherever, everywhere, anywhere • Contrast : although, even though, though, whereas, while • Similarities: just as, as • *This is not a complete list.

Complex Sentences:• A subordinating conjunction makes a clause DEPENDENT

• For example:• INdependent : Maria studies English . • DEpendent : After Maria studies English

• INdependent : I love to cook . • DEpendent : Just as I love to cook

• INdependent : Omar is driving to work . • DEpendent : While Omar is driving to work

Complex Sentence Patterns:• Complex Sentence Patterns VERY IMPORTANT COMMA RULE: • Pattern 1: DEPENDENT CLAUSE + COMMA + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful . After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .

Pattern 2: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE (No comma!!) The dog is beautiful although it is brown . The girl will start studying after she walks to school .

Complex Sentences:• Here are the same complex sentences using Pattern 2: Independent Clause + Dependent Clause ( no comma!)

The dog is beautiful although it is brown . She bought a coffee before she ate lunch in the park . The girl will start studying after she walks to school

Complex Sentences :• Complex Sentences • Examples of complex sentences:

He goes to school after he finishes work . She felt better as soon as she took the medicine . Before you apply to college , you have to take an entrance exam . It has been a year since I left home . We can’t leave the room until everyone has finished the test . Whenever I don’t sleep well , I feel sick the next day . Jack excels at sports because he trains hard . I can never remember where I put my keys .

Complex Sentences :

• Review : • Pattern 1: DEPENDENT CLAUSE + COMMA + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Because he trains hard , Jack excels at sports.

• Pattern 2: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE (No comma!!) Jack excels at sports because he trains hard .

Adapted from Introduction to Academic Writing , Third Edition, by Alice Oshima & Ann Hogue .

Practice