COMPLEX SENTENCES

1. Definition
          A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause even though it has a subject and a verb cannot stand alone.
Example:
- Although Denise had some doubts, she found the courses very useful.
 
The above example is a complex sentence: it has a dependent clause (a subject 'Denise' and a verb 'had'), followed by an independent clause (subject 'she' and a verb 'found') and forms a complete thought.

- Computers have come a long way since they first came on the market.
This example begins with an independent clause (subject 'computers' and verb 'have come') that forms a complete thought, followed by a dependent clause (subject 'they' and a verb 'came').

2. Common Complex Sentence

As we have seen with the previous examples, the structure for a complex sentence essentially looks like this:

• Dependent Clause + Independent Clause (comma splits the clause)
• Independent Clause + Dependent Clause (comma usually does not split the clause)

So, using that structure we can easily form examples of complex sentences:

• Despite her advancing years, Elesa was still the best player on the team.
• Elesa was still the best player on the team despite her advancing years.
• Since Hannah got here, she’s been nothing but trouble.
• Hannah has been nothing but trouble since she got here.

You should also be aware that a complex sentence can contain more than one dependent clause. Here are some examples of those types of complex sentences:

• Because I was often late, and since I was always forgetting things, I was regarded as a scatterbrain by my friends.
• Although the war ended, and as people tend to have short memories, the city’s people were still divided over its impact.

 

3. Complex Sentences from Literature

Below are some quotes from that classic books that can be considered complex sentences:

• “Because he was so small, Stuart was often hard to find around the hou”
  E.B White – Stuart Little
• “I’ve never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.”
  George Eliot – The Mill on the Floss
• “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”
  John Steinbeck — East of Eden

 4. Parts of Complex Sentences

a. Independent Clause

          An independent clause is a clause that can exist as a sentence on its own. It has a subject and a predicate and makes sense as a complete sentence. As mentioned, the independent clause shares the main information of a complex sentence.

• The dog ate popcorn.
• The dog ran quickly.
• He ate popcorn.
• He went to the county fair.

b. Dependent (Subordinate) Clause

A dependent clause has a subject and a predicate; BUT, it can’t be a sentence. It provides extra details about the independent clause, and it doesn’t make sense on its own, like these:

• After he went to the fair
• Though he ate popcorn
• While he was at the county fair
• When the dog smelled popcorn

Though all of the examples above contain subjects and predicates, none of them make sense. Each leaves an unanswered question. By itself, a dependent clause is just a fragment (an incomplete sentence). So, it needs to be combined with an independent clause to be a sentence.

Complex sentences have at least one dependent clause, but they can have two or more.

c. Dependent “Marker” Words/Subordinating Conjunctions

A dependent marker word (also called a subordinating conjunction) goes at the beginning of an independent clause. It turns an independent clause into a dependent clause by adding details like time or context. Common dependent marker words include after, although, as, because, before, even if, even though, if, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while. Let’s start with an independent clause:
He was at the county fair = Independent clause
Now, add a dependent marker word, like “when”:
When he was at the county fair = Dependent clause
Here are some complex sentences with the marker words underlined:

• When he was at the county fair, the dog ate popcorn.
• Though he likes cotton candy, the dog loves popcorn.
• The dog gets a stomachache if he eats popcorn.
• The dog went to the county fair when he smelled the popcorn.

Notice that when the sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction, there is a comma at the end of the dependent clause. When the subordinating conjunction is in the middle of the sentence, there is no comma.
This is different from what you’ve learned with compound sentences! So, remember when there is a subordinating conjunction in the middle of a sentence you don’t need a comma.

4. How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences are very common and pretty easy to write, as long as you remember their rules. When writing a complex sentence, you should follow these important guidelines:

1. All complex sentences have an independent clause and a dependent clause.
2. Complex sentences can have more than one dependent clause.
3. To connect independent and dependent clauses, you need dependent marker words and/or subordinating conjunctions.
4. Dependent marker words come at the beginning of a complex sentence.
5. When a dependent marker word comes at the beginning of a sentence, you need a comma at the end of the dependent clause.
6. When a dependent marker word comes in the middle of the sentence, you do not need a comma.