A complex sentence is an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause either lacks a subject or a verb or has both a subject and a verb that does not express a complete thought. A complex sentence always has a subordinator (as, because, since, after, although, when) or relative pronouns (who, that, which). These below examples will help in constructing complex sentence.
Examples:
1. After eating lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, Tim went to the gym to exercise. The independent clause is ‘Washim went to the gym to exercise.” The subordinating clause before it is dependent on the main, independent clause. If one were to say “after eating lunch at The Cheesecake Factory,” it would be an incomplete thought.
2. Opinionated women are given disadvantages in societies that privilege male accomplishments.
Forming Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions
If a subordinate clause appears at the beginning of a complex sentence, it must be separated from the independent clause by a comma. The subordinating conjunction helps in constructing complex sentence in every possible way.
Example:
After she finished her homework, Monica went shopping. In general, if a subordinate clause appears after the independent clause in a compound sentence, no comma is needed.
Example:
Monica went shopping after she finished her homework. Note on punctuation: If the subordinating conjunction in a complex sentence is whereas, though, although, or even though, a comma is needed to show separation between the two clauses.
Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence has two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Examples:
1. After the two soccer players lost their game, they joined their other teammates for lunch, and they went to the movies. ^If we remove the dependent clause “after the two soccer players lost their game,” we have a compound sentence. The dependent clause makes this sentence compound-complex.
2. The man believed in the system, and he knew that justice would prevail after the murderer was sent to jail.
Function of Independent and Dependent Clause in Constructing Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and one or more dependent or subordinate clauses, which may come before or after the independent clause: “If we are not going to the restaurant, we need to cancel our reservation.”
- She went to class even though she was sick.
- As John was arriving to work, he realized he forgot his lunch.
- While I enjoy classical music, I prefer rock and roll because I play the drums.
Combining Independent and Dependent Clause:
Complex sentences are made when we combine an independent clause with a dependent clause. The dependent clause in the following example is in italics.
- Because his essay was late, he lost marks.
Omission of Comma:
When the dependent clause comes first, as in the example above, it is separated from the independent clause with a comma. When the sentence begins with the independent clause, there is no need to separate the clauses with a comma.
- He lost marks because the essay was late.
Emphasis on the Beginning Clause:
Comparing these two examples, it can be seen that the emphasis tends to fall on the clause at the beginning of the sentence. Vary your placement of dependent clauses in order to emphasise the most important idea in the sentence. Common ways to begin a dependent clause are: although, as, because, even though, if, instead, through, when, whenever, where, while. Whilst more than one dependent clause can be used in a sentence, they must always be combined with an independent clause to complete the idea.
- Although there are many dissenters, many of whom were prominent citizens, the policy still stands today.
Distinct Type of Compound-Complex Sentence:
Different types of sentences can be combined to form compound-complex sentences. In the example below, the central independent clause combines two sentence types. It serves as both the ending of the complex sentence and the beginning of the compound sentence.
- When considering owning a pet, you must calculate the cost, or the animal may suffer.
When punctuating a compound-complex sentence, apply the rules for both compound and complex sentences. The example above begins with a dependent clause separated from the central clause by a comma, as in the rule for complex sentences. At the end of the sentence the independent clause is joined by a comma and the word or, as in the rule for the compound sentences.
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