From the creators of “Simple & Compound

Sentences” Von Steuben’s English Department

is proud to present

COMPLEX
SENTENCES
 Simple Sentences Review
A simple sentence is also known as an
independent clause; this means it has a
clear subject (or noun) and predicate (verb).
⚫ BTW: A sentence MUST express a complete
thought, otherwise it is considered a sentence
fragment, a.k.a. an DEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Ex. 1 Zeus was the king of all the gods.

Ex. 2 His behavior was sometimes dishonorable.
 Compound Sentence Review
⚫ Compound sentences are created using one of
three methods to join two independent clauses
together:
⚫ Method 1: a comma + a conjunction (FANBOYS word)
⚫ Method 2: a semi-colon (;),or
⚫ Method 3: a semi-colon + conjunctive adverb.

For example (using Method 3):

Zeus was the king of all the gods; however, his
behavior was not always honorable.
 Complex Sentences
A dependent clause is also known as a sentence fragment,
or a phrase that does not express a complete thought.
⚫ Therefore, a complex sentence is created using one of two
methods

Method 1: independent clause + dependent clause.

Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) + (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)

Method 2: Dependent clause + a comma (,) + independent clause

EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)
 Helpful Hints
Hint #1: Complex Sentences often show
cause-and-effect in your writing.

Hint #2: In order to identify a complex

sentence, look for the subordinating
conjunction!!

Hint #3: There is NO COMMA before the

subordinating conjunction.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
Think: BABAWUWUIST
(Hooray! Another acronym! ☺ )

Before When If

After Unless Since

Because While Through

Although Until

When should you use these terms?

 Practice:
⚫ Add either a dependent or an independent
clause to these dependent clause make a
complex sentence:
1. The cafeteria food improved when…

2. Because Jimmy & Luis love basketball,…

3. Before …, you should get all the facts.

 Now You Try!
With a neighbor, write a complex sentence about your childhood hero using
BOTH methods (2 mins)

Method 1:
Independent clause + Dependent clause.
Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) + (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)

Method 2:
Dependent clause + a comma (,) + Independent clause

EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)
…and now for something a little different, allow me to introduce…

COMPOUND-
COMPLEX
SENTENCES
 Review
⚫ Simple sentences have one main clause
and no subordinate clauses
⚫ Compound sentences have two or more
main clauses, but no subordinate
clauses.
⚫ Subordinate Clauses (a.k.a. “sentence
fragments” are clauses that are missing
either a subject or predicate and therefore
cannot stand alone)
⚫ HINT: Look for BABAWUISTA words as clues
 Complex & Compound-Complex
Sentences are Slightly Different
⚫ A complex sentence has one main
clause and one or more subordinate
clauses
For Example:
Because we had the day off, |and didn’t have
(subordinating clause)

anything better | to do | in the morning, |

(subordinating clause) (infinitive verb phrase) (prepositional phrase

we slept-in until the midafternoon (independent clause).

Subject Verb (adverb phrase)
Compound-Complex Sentences
⚫ A compound-complex sentence TWO or
more main clause and at least one
subordinate clause.
For Example:
Although it was a Tuesday, we slept-in until midafternoon
(subordinating clause) (independent clause)
because parent-teacher conferences were scheduled for the day
(subordinating clause)
and while our parents have to come to school,
(subordinating clause)
we didn’t have to go to our classes that day.
(independent clause)
Problem 3: A fragment that is missing an
independent clause.
Because we were tired.
⚫ What is the complete thought responsible for the
tiredness or the result of the exhaustion?
Because we were tired, we fell asleep on the train
and missed our stop.

Problem 4: The fragment is missing both a subject and

predicate).
After school.
⚫ Who or what is completing what action after school?
The sports awards ceremony was held after school.
SUBJECT– the “who or what” PREDICATE– the action or condition