COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES (REVIEW)

WEBSITE (to start with):

https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences/writing-complex-compound-
sentences.html

Examples of Compound Complex Sentences:

In these examples, the dependent, or subordinate, clause is in red. The coordinating
conjunction is boldfaced.

1. When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, and my mom is proud of me.

2. I will get to watch television, but first, I have to clean up the dishes after we finish
eating.

3. We won the game, but my uniform was muddy because it rained the entire time.

4. Usually I take a walk every day while the sun sets, but it was raining today.

5. Sarah cried when her cat got sick, but he soon got better.

6. The sun is shining through the clouds, so I think that we can go swimming.

7. She likes to sleep in, but she can get up early if she has work.

8. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't
found anyone to go with.

9. Kate doesn’t like cartoons because they are loud, so she doesn’t watch them.

10. If Barack Obama is re-elected this November, he'll serve another four years, but it
won't be an easy contest to win.

11. Even though he prefers to eat with a fork, he chooses to use chopsticks in
Chinese restaurants; however, they aren't easy to use.

12. I invited Bruno to the concert, but he can only go if one of us gives him a ride.

13. Kaci has a bountiful vegetable garden, so she is always outside when it is sunny.

14. As soon as I heard the news, I called Nathan, and we made plans to celebrate.

15. I passed the test, but I would have gotten a perfect score if I had studied for the
vocabulary section.
16. You can come pick up the cake, or if you would prefer, we can deliver it to you.

17. I wanted to go to a baseball game, but my father, who is a huge ballet fan,
wanted to see The Nutcracker instead.

18. We went to get some dinner after class was over; however, the food court was
already closed.

19. I will go to the party as long as Terry is there; I won’t stay long, though.

20. I never graduated from college; nevertheless, I found a great job because my
uncle has a connection in the auto industry.

21. John doesn’t like novels since they are lengthy, so he doesn’t read them.

22. Though he was late, James knew he had to complete the assignment, and he
quickly went to the study room.

23. She loves listening to music, but she can’t dance when music is played.

Multiple dependent clauses

Complex-compound sentences can also have more than one dependent clause. For
example:

1. Although I promised I’d study with Ethan, I’d rather go to the movies with Jim;
nevertheless, I made a promise, even if it isn’t as much fun.

2. I’ve been doing gymnastics since I was six, but I got into archery when I was a
freshman in college.

3. We decided that the movie was too violent, but our children, who like to watch
scary movies, thought that we were wrong.

4. Even though he never studied, he always passed his tests in high school, but I
don’t think he’ll be able to pull that off in college when he has a much harder
workload.

5. The bank will lend us the money providing we have something for collateral, so I
asked my parents to help, although I’m not sure they will agree to.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
1. A complex-compound sentence requires at least one of which of the following?
a) independent clause
b) dependent clause
c) coordinating conjunction
d) semicolon

2. Which of the following can be used to join the two independent clauses in a
complex-compound sentence?
a) coordinating conjunction
b) correlative conjunction
c) conjunctive adverb
d) semicolon
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

3. Which of the following can be used to join a dependent clause to an independent

clause in a complex-compound sentence?
a) coordinating conjunction
b) subordinating conjunction
c) conjunctive adverb
d) semicolon
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

4. Identify the dependent clause or clauses in the following sentence:

“I’m going to see Shawna at the mall later; you can come with me, though I know
you two don’t get along.”
a) I’m going to see Shawna at the mall later
b) you can come with me
c) though I know you two don’t get along
d) A & B
e) B & C
f) A & C

5. Identify the dependent clause or clauses in the following sentence:

“Although I’ve saved up for a few years, I’ve never been able to afford buying a
house, but we should be able to get a mortgage soon, providing my job remains
secure.”
a) Although I’ve saved up for a few years
b) I’ve never been able to afford buying a house
c) we should be able to get a mortgage soon
d) providing my job remains secure
e) A & C
f) B & C
g) A & D
h) B & D

6. TRUE or FALSE: A compound-complex sentence has to have at least three

independent clauses.
a) True
b) False

7. What do conjunctions do in a compound-complex sentence?

a) Nothing, you don’t need them
b) Link together sentence parts
c) Give more information
d) Confuse people

8.Which is the dependent clause in this sentence?

When the sky is cloudy, I like to sit outside and sometimes I read a book.
a) When the sky is cloudy
b) I like to sit outside
c) And
d) Sometimes I read a book

9. What kind of conjunction is 'and' in the sentence found in Question 8?

a) Subordinating
b) Coordinating
c) Action
d) None of the above
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (ANSWER KEY)
1. A complex-compound sentence requires at least one of which of the following?
a) independent clause
b) dependent clause
c) coordinating conjunction
d) semicolon

2. Which of the following can be used to join the two independent clauses in a
complex-compound sentence?
a) coordinating conjunction
b) correlative conjunction
c) conjunctive adverb
d) semicolon
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

3. Which of the following can be used to join a dependent clause to an independent

clause in a complex-compound sentence?
a) coordinating conjunction
b) subordinating conjunction
c) conjunctive adverb
d) semicolon
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

4. Identify the dependent clause or clauses in the following sentence:

“I’m going to see Shawna at the mall later; you can come with me, though I know you
two don’t get along.”
a) I’m going to see Shawna at the mall later
b) you can come with me
c) though I know you two don’t get along
d) A & B
e) B & C
f) A & C

5. Identify the dependent clause or clauses in the following sentence:

“Although I’ve saved up for a few years, I’ve never been able to afford buying a
house, but we should be able to get a mortgage soon, providing my job remains
secure.”
a) Although I’ve saved up for a few years
b) I’ve never been able to afford buying a house
c) we should be able to get a mortgage soon
d) providing my job remains secure
e) A & C
f) B & C
g) A & D
h) B & D

6. TRUE or FALSE: A compound-complex sentence has to have at least three

independent clauses.
a) True
b) False

7. What do conjunctions do in a compound-complex sentence?

a) Nothing, you don’t need them
b) Link together sentence parts
c) Give more information
d) Confuse people

8.Which is the dependent clause in this sentence?

When the sky is cloudy, I like to sit outside and sometimes I read a book.
a) When the sky is cloudy
b) I like to sit outside
c) And
d) Sometimes I read a book

9. What kind of conjunction is 'and' in the sentence found in Question 8?

a) Subordinating
b) Coordinating
c) Action
d) None of the above