Complex Sentences

Test yourself

Complex Sentences

The other type of sentence you need to know is called a complex sentence. This is how you make a complex sentence...

1) Start with a simple sentence

Simple sentence - I heated my food in the microwave.
- This simple sentence is also called an independent clause. It's called an independent clause because it's a sentence that makes sense by itself.

2) Add a dependent clause

A dependent clause is a clause that does NOT make sense by itself. It's called a dependent clause because it depends on another clause to make sense.
We will add a dependent clause on the next slide...

Dependent clause, then a simple sentence

Because it was cold, I heated my food in the microwave.
- The clause in bold is the dependent clause. The clause does not make sense by itself - we need more information to understand what's going on.
- This is now a complex sentence.

Definition of a complex sentence

So a complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and at least 1 dependent clause.

You have already learned how to make a complex sentence. Remember - a complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least 1 dependent clause. Let's now look at some more examples of complex sentences...

Sentence about being late

Although I left the house earlier than normal, I was late for school.
- The first part of the sentence is the dependent clause.
- The second part of the sentence is the independent clause.

Sentence about a storm

After the storm hit, the town was ruined.
- The first part of the sentence in bold is the dependent clause.
- The second part of the sentence is the independent clause.

Sentence about a ballerina

Jemima went to ballet class, even though she could not find her shoes.
- The first part of the sentence is the independent clause.
- The second part of the sentence in bold is the dependent clause.

Sentence about playing basketball

Now that he is so tall, James is good at basketball.
- The first part of the sentence in bold is the dependent clause.
- The second part of the sentence is the independent clause.

Sentence about rain

Since it is raining, I will not go outside.
- The first part of the sentence in bold is the dependent clause.
- The second part of the sentence is the independent clause.

1Reading

1.1Root Words

1.1.1Understanding New Words

1.1.2Exception Words

1.2Prefixes

1.2.1'Anti-' & 'Auto-'

1.2.2Not & 'Inter-'

1.2.3'Mis-', 'Dis-' & 'Re-'

1.2.4'Sub-' & 'Super-'

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Root Words & Prefixes

1.3Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes

1.3.2Suffixes: '-ous'

1.3.3Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'

1.3.4Testing - Rules for Suffixes

1.3.5Suffixes: '-ly'

1.3.6Suffixes: '-ation'

1.3.7Rules for Suffixes: '-ation'

1.3.8Spelling: '-tion' Endings

1.3.9Spelling: '-sion' Endings

1.3.10Spelling: '-ssion' Endings

1.3.11Spelling: '-cian' Endings

1.3.12End of Topic Test - Suffixes

2Writing

2.1Composition

2.1.1Effective Writing

2.1.2Planning

2.1.3Drafting

2.1.4Editing

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Composition

2.2Conjunctions

2.2.1Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

2.2.2Complex Sentences

2.2.3Coordinating Conjunctions

2.2.4Subordinating Conjunctions

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Conjunctions

2.3Present Perfect Tense

2.3.1Present Perfect Tense

2.3.2Uses of the Present Perfect Tense

2.4Nouns

2.4.1Using Nouns & Pronouns Properly

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Present Perfect & Nouns

2.5Fronted Adverbials

2.5.1Saying Where, When & How Often

2.5.2Saying How & Why

2.5.3Using Commas

2.6Direct Speech

2.6.1Direct Speech

2.6.2End of Topic Test - Fronted Adverbials & Speech

2.7Homophones

2.8Spelling Rules

2.8.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds

2.8.2Words Ending in '-Sure', '-Mure' & '-Sion'

2.8.3'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings

2.8.4Words Ending in 'G' & 'K' Sounds

2.8.5Spelling Words with 'Ch' & 'Sc'

2.8.6Silent Letters

2.8.7End of Topic Test - Spelling Rules

2.9Using Apostrophes

2.9.1Using Apostrophes with Regular Plurals

2.9.2Using Apostrophes with Irregular Plurals

2.10Using a Dictionary

2.10.1Using a Dictionary

2.10.2End of Topic Test - Apostrophes & Dictionaries

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