A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete thought and must be attached to an independent clause. There are two patterns for writing complex sentences: pattern one uses a comma to separate the dependent clause, which comes first, from the independent clause. Pattern two does not use a comma, with the independent clause coming first followed by the dependent clause. Common words like although, before, and when can make a clause dependent.

1. Complex Sentence
Will Mani

2. Complex Sentences:
• Complex Sentences
Before we talk about types of sentences in English, you need to
understand a few terms:
What is a phrase ?
What is a clause ?
Independent ?
Dependent ?
What is a sentence ?

3. CoComplex Sentences
mplex Sentences:
What is a phrase ?
• A phrase is a group of words, but they are not complete thoughts.
Phrases cannot stand alone because they are missing either a subject
or a main verb .
• For example: the dog in the park walks to school

4. Complex Sentences:
What is a clause ?
A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb.
Two types of clauses - independent and dependent .
Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences.
Ex. The dog is brown.
Dependent clauses can not stand alone as complete sentences.
Ex. Although the dog is brown

5. Complex Sentences:
What is a sentence ?
• A sentence is a group of words with a subject and a verb that is a
complete thought . It can stand alone, so it is also called an
independent clause.
• For example:
• The dog is brown.
• She ate lunch in the park.
• The girl walks to school.

6. Complex Sentences:
• Complex Sentences Review:
• Phrase - a group of words that are not complete thoughts and cannot
stand alone. It is missing either a subject or verb.
• Clause - a group of words with a subject and verb. Clauses can be
either independent or dependent .
• Sentence - a group of words with a subject and a verb that is a
complete thought.

7. Complex Sentences:
Complex Sentences
Independent Clauses An independent clause ,
or sentence,
is a group of words with a subject and verb. It is a complete thought that CAN stand alone.
For example:
The dog is brown.
She ate lunch in the park.
The girl walks to school.
Independent Clause = Sentence

8. Complex Sentences:
Complex Sentences
Dependent Clauses
• A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb.
However, it is NOT a complete thought; therefore, it can NOT stand
alone as a complete sentence.
For example:
Although the dog is brown As soon as she ate lunch in the park After
the girl walks to school

9. Complex Sentences:
• Now that you understand what phrases , clauses (dependent &
independent), and sentences are, we can talk about COMPLEX
sentences.
3 Types of Sentences in English:
Simple Sentences – The dog is brown .
Compound Sentences – The dog is brown , but the cat is grey .
Complex Sentences – Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful .

10. Complex Sentences:
Complex Sentences
• A COMPLEX sentence has one independent clause and one
dependent clause.
For example:
Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful .
Before she ate lunch in the park , she bought a coffee .
After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .

11. Complex Sentences:
• Complex Sentences A dependent clause can NOT stand alone as a
compete sentence, so it must be attached to an independent clause .
Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful .
Before she ate lunch in the park , she bought a coffee .
After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .
Dependent clause + Independent clause = COMPLEX sentence

12. Complex Sentences:
What words make a clause DEPENDENT?
• Subordinating Conjunctions*
• Time: after, as soon as, before, since, until, when, whenever, while
Reason/Condition : because, since, as, if, whether
• Place/Location : where, wherever, everywhere, anywhere
• Contrast : although, even though, though, whereas, while
• Similarities: just as, as
• *This is not a complete list.

13. Complex Sentences:
• A subordinating conjunction makes a clause DEPENDENT
• For example:
• INdependent : Maria studies English .
• DEpendent : After Maria studies English
• INdependent : I love to cook .
• DEpendent : Just as I love to cook
• INdependent : Omar is driving to work .
• DEpendent : While Omar is driving to work

14. Complex Sentence Patterns:
• Complex Sentence Patterns VERY IMPORTANT COMMA RULE:
• Pattern 1: DEPENDENT CLAUSE + COMMA + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Although the dog is brown , it is beautiful .
After the girl walks to school , she will start studying .
Pattern 2: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE (No comma!!)
The dog is beautiful although it is brown .
The girl will start studying after she walks to school .

15. Complex Sentences:
• Here are the same complex sentences using
Pattern 2: Independent Clause + Dependent Clause ( no comma!)
The dog is beautiful although it is brown .
She bought a coffee before she ate lunch in the park .
The girl will start studying after she walks to school

16. Complex Sentences :
• Complex Sentences
• Examples of complex sentences:
He goes to school after he finishes work .
She felt better as soon as she took the medicine .
Before you apply to college , you have to take an entrance exam .
It has been a year since I left home .
We can’t leave the room until everyone has finished the test .
Whenever I don’t sleep well , I feel sick the next day .
Jack excels at sports because he trains hard .
I can never remember where I put my keys .

17. Complex Sentences :
• Review :
• Pattern 1: DEPENDENT CLAUSE + COMMA + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Because he trains hard , Jack excels at sports.
• Pattern 2: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE (No comma!!)
Jack excels at sports because he trains hard .

18. Adapted from Introduction to Academic Writing ,
Third Edition, by Alice Oshima & Ann Hogue .

19. Practice