2.2.2

Complex Sentences

Test yourself on Complex Sentences

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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

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

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

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

Definition of a complex sentence

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

Examples of Complex Sentences

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Reading

1.1

Root Words

1.1.1Understanding New Words1.1.2Exception Words
1.2

Prefixes

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
1.3

Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes1.3.2Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.3Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.4Testing - Rules for Suffixes1.3.5Suffixes: '-ly'1.3.6Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.7Rules for Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.8Spelling: '-tion' Endings1.3.9Spelling: '-sion' Endings1.3.10Spelling: '-ssion' Endings1.3.11Spelling: '-cian' Endings1.3.12End of Topic Test - Suffixes
2

Writing

2.1

Composition

2.1.1Effective Writing2.1.2Planning2.1.3Drafting2.1.4Editing2.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Composition
2.2

Conjunctions

2.2.1Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences2.2.2Complex Sentences2.2.3Coordinating Conjunctions2.2.4Subordinating Conjunctions2.2.5End of Topic Test - Conjunctions
2.3

Present Perfect Tense

2.3.1Present Perfect Tense2.3.2Uses of the Present Perfect Tense
2.4

Nouns

2.4.1Using Nouns & Pronouns Properly2.4.2End of Topic Test - Present Perfect & Nouns
2.5

Fronted Adverbials

2.5.1Saying Where, When & How Often2.5.2Saying How & Why2.5.3Using Commas
2.6

Direct Speech

2.6.1Direct Speech2.6.2End of Topic Test - Fronted Adverbials & Speech
2.7

Homophones

2.7.1Accept & Except2.7.2Affect & Effect2.7.3Ball & Bawl2.7.4Berry & Bury2.7.5Brake & Break2.7.6Fair & Fare2.7.7Grate & Great2.7.8Groan & Grown2.7.9Hear & Here2.7.10Heal, Heel & He'll2.7.11Knot & Not2.7.12Mail & Male2.7.13Main & Mane2.7.14Meat & Meet2.7.15Medal & Meddle2.7.16Missed & Mist2.7.17Peace & Piece2.7.18Plain & Plane2.7.19Rain & Reign & Rein2.7.20Scene & Seen2.7.21Weather & Whether2.7.22Whose & Who's2.7.23End of Topic Test - Homophones
2.8

Spelling Rules

2.8.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds2.8.2Words Ending in '-Sure', '-Mure' & '-Sion'2.8.3'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings2.8.4Words Ending in 'G' & 'K' Sounds2.8.5Spelling Words with 'Ch' & 'Sc'2.8.6Silent Letters2.8.7End of Topic Test - Spelling Rules
2.9

Using Apostrophes

2.9.1Using Apostrophes with Regular Plurals2.9.2Using Apostrophes with Irregular Plurals
2.10

Using a Dictionary

2.10.1Using a Dictionary2.10.2End of Topic Test - Apostrophes & Dictionaries

Practice questions on Complex Sentences

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    How do you Make a Complex Sentence?Put in order
  2. 2
    What is the grammatical term for a clause that does not make sense by itself?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which part of this sentence is the __independent clause__?<br><br><b>Although I was late, my teacher was in a good mood.</b>Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which of these are complex sentences?True / false
  5. 5
    What is a __complex sentence__?Multiple choice
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Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

Coordinating Conjunctions