Complex sentences are a fundamental component of English grammar, allowing for more nuanced expressions and ideas within writing and speech. This guide provides a detailed exploration of complex sentences, including their structure, usage, and the rules governing their construction. We will also offer examples and tips to help you effectively employ complex sentences in your communication.
What is a Complex Sentence?
A complex sentence is a sentence that combines one independent clause with at least one dependent clause. Unlike an independent clause, a dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. Dependent clauses are sometimes called subordinate clauses.
Components of Complex Sentences
- Independent Clause: This is a complete sentence in itself, containing a subject and a predicate that expresses a complete thought.
- Dependent Clause: This clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause. It includes a subject and a verb but begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, making the clause an incomplete thought.
- Subordinating Conjunctions: These include words like because, since, after, although, when, if, as, while, and whereas. They introduce the dependent clause and indicate the nature of the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.
- Relative Pronouns: These include who, whom, whose, which, and that. They introduce dependent clauses that provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the independent clause.
Constructing Complex Sentences
To create a complex sentence, you can follow these steps:
- Identify the Clauses: Start with an independent clause that can stand alone. Then, create or identify a dependent clause that you want to connect to the independent clause.
- Choose a Connector: Decide whether to use a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun to introduce the dependent clause.
- Combine the Clauses: Attach the dependent clause to the independent clause using the chosen connector. The placement of the dependent clause can be at the beginning, middle, or end of the sentence, depending on the desired emphasis and flow.
Examples of Complex Sentences
- Subordinating Conjunctions:
- “Although it was raining, she went for a walk.”
- “You can start dinner when I get home.”
- Relative Pronouns:
- “The book that you lent me is excellent.”
- “The athlete who won the race trained hard.”
Tips for Writing Complex Sentences
- Ensure Clarity: Position the dependent clause in a way that makes the sentence easy to understand. Avoid placing too many clauses together without clear punctuation.
- Use Variety: Mix complex sentences with simple and compound sentences to create a varied and engaging text.
- Be Cautious with Punctuation: Use commas appropriately:
- When a dependent clause precedes the independent clause, it should be followed by a comma.
- When the dependent clause follows the independent clause and is not essential for meaning, it should be set off with commas.
- No comma is needed if the dependent clause follows the independent clause and is essential for the meaning of the sentence.
- Practice Consistency: When using relative pronouns, make sure they clearly refer to a specific noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence to avoid confusion.
- Check for Completeness: Ensure that every dependent clause is attached to an independent clause to avoid fragments.
Conclusion
Complex sentences are essential for expressing detailed and layered thoughts in English. By mastering the use of complex sentences, you can enhance your writing’s depth and clarity, making your overall communication more effective. Regular practice and careful review of your sentences will help solidify your understanding and usage of this important grammatical structure.