What is a Complex Sentence?
In English language the sentences are classified into several categories depending on their function, structure etc. There are mainly four types of sentence structures. Each sentence structure uses a specific combination of independent clauses, also called main clauses, and dependent clauses also called subordinate clauses. A complex sentence is one among these four sentence structures. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause even though it has a subject and a verb cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be linked to the independent clause by a subordinate conjunction.
Prerequisites to comprehend this article
For grasping the contents of this article, it’s essential that you have sufficient knowledge of the following grammatical terms:
- Clauses
- Dependent clauseaka Subordinate clause
- Adverb clause aka Adverbial clause
- Adjective clause aka Relative clause
- Noun clause aka Content clause
- Independent clause aka Coordinate clause/Main clause/Principal clause
- Dependent clauseaka Subordinate clause
- Linking words aka Connectives
- Subordinating conjunctions
- Subordinating conjunctions of Comparison
- Subordinating conjunctions of Concession
- Subordinating conjunctions of Contrast
- Subordinating conjunctions of Manner
- Subordinating conjunctions of Place
- Subordinating conjunctions of Reason
- Subordinating conjunctions of Time
- Relative pronouns
- Relative adverbs
- Subordinating conjunctions
A complex sentence is a sentence that consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. We use complex sentences to show the relationship between two ideas and indicate which of the two ideas is more important.
Example:
- I opened my eyes. I heard the alarm ringing.
Given above are two simple sentences or in other words two independent clauses. Reading these sentences, we can only guess the relation between the two ideas. But by combining these two ideas into a complex sentence, the idea of these two simple sentences can be made specifically clear as shown below:
Now the idea is noticeably clear. By adding the subordinate conjunction, “when” we transformed the independent clause, ” I heard the alarm ringing”, to a dependent clause it cannot stand alone. It is dependent on the other independent clause, “I heard the alarm ringing”. Not only the meaning of the ideas became clear; but it has also highlighted the importance of the independent clause,” I opened my eyes.”
From the above example, it is evident that simple sentences are not able to express the relationship between two ideas explicitly, and complex sentences are essential for this purpose. The subordinate conjunctions help complex sentences for performing this function.
There are a lot of subordinate conjunctions in English language to show different types of relationships like Time, Place, Concession, Comparison, Condition, Manner, Reason etc. Relative pronoun and relative adverb also connect the clauses and indicate some specific relation. Depending on the context we must choose suitable subordinate conjunctions, so that the relationship between the ideas will be clear. Some of the most common subordinate conjunctions, relative pronoun, and relative adverb are given below, along with examples of complex sentences, so that we may get an idea of how these subordinate conjunctions and other connective words are used.
Examples of complex sentences using different types of subordinate conjunctions:
1. Subordinate conjunction of Time
- After he had a nap, he began to watch a film on the TV.
(In this complex sentence, “After he had a nap “is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause,” he began to watch a film on the TV,” with the subordinate conjunction, “after” that shows the time.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “time” are:
Before
As long as
As soon as
Till
Since
2. Subordinate conjunction of Place
- This is the school where I studied.
(In this complex sentence, ” where I studied. “is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause,” This is the school.” with the subordinate conjunction, “where”, that shows the place.)
“Wherever” is another commonly used subordinate conjunctions which shows “place”.
3. Subordinate conjunction of Concession
- Though it was raining, she went out.
(In this complex sentence, ” Though it was raining “is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause,” she went out.” with the subordinate conjunction, “though”, that shows concession.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “concession” are:
Although
Even though
4. Subordinate conjunction of Comparison
- My brother is smarter than I am.
(In this complex sentence, “than I am” functions as the dependent clause. It is linked to the independent clause, “My brother is smarter,” through the subordinating conjunction “than,” which expresses comparison.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “Comparison ” are:
Rather than
As much as
Whereas
5. Subordinate conjunction of Condition
- If my only son goes to USA, I will be lonely.
(In this complex sentence, ” If my only son goes to USA” is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause,”, I will be lonely.” with the subordinate conjunction, ” if”, that shows condition.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “condition ” are:
Only if
Unless
Provided that
6. Subordinate conjunction of Manner
- The husband and wife looked each other as though they are going to start an altercation.
(In this complex sentence, “as though they are going to start an altercation” is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause, ” I will be lonely ” with the subordinate conjunction, “as though“, that shows manner.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “manner” are:
As
As if
Note: When we talk about an unreal situation, we use past tense after “as if” and “as though”. Then we can use ” were “with she, he, and I.
Example:
- He treats me as if I were a small child.
7. Subordinate conjunction of Reason
She never scolds her naughty little brother because she loves him so much.
(In this complex sentence, “ because she loves him so much. ” is the dependent clause. This is connected to the independent clause, “She never scolds her naughty little brother ” with the subordinate conjunction, “because “, that shows reason.)
Some other common subordinate conjunctions which show “reason ” are:
Since
As
So that
8. Relative Pronoun
A Relative Pronoun is a pronoun used to connect a subordinate clause (relative clause) to the main clause. Like any other pronoun it has the grammatical function of a noun, and acts as the subject/ object of the relative clause.
Example:
She is the girl who sits next to me in the class
(In this complex sentence, ” who sits next to me in the class ” is the dependent clause (relative clause). This is connected to the independent clause, ” She is the girl” with the Relative Pronoun, “who “, which is the subject of the dependent clause too.)
The five common relative pronouns are:
Who
Whom
which
Whose
That
9. Relative Adverb
A Relative adverb is an adverb used to connect a subordinate clause (relative clause) to the main clause. Like many other adverbs, it modifies a verb.
Example:
I love the village where I was born.
The Relative Adverbs are:
Where
When
Why
Structure, Order and Punctuation of Complex Sentence.
Structure: As already stated above a complex sentence consists of an independent clause/main clause, and one or more dependent clauses/subordinate clauses connected to the main clause using subordinate conjunction. The dependent clause may be adverbial clause, adjective clause/Relative clause, or noun clause.
Order: The order of the clauses in a complex sentence is flexible. We can structure the sentence with either the dependent clause first or the independent clause first without any change in meaning.
Punctuation: When the dependent clause is placed first, it is general followed by a comma. But when the independent clause comes first, usually comma is not required.
Examples:
Before you eat anything with your hand, you must wash your hand thoroughly.
In the above sentence, “before you eat anything with your hand “is a dependent clause. It is an adverbial clause of time. It is at the beginning of the sentence, so it is followed by a comma. The same sentence is rewritten below, in which the independent clause is written first. Then no comma is placed.
You must wash your hand thoroughly before you eat anything with your hand.
The bird that is singing so sweetly is a koel
In the above sentence, “that is singing so sweetly” is the dependent clause. Here it is an adjective/ relative clause.
I know that he is lying.
In the above sentence, “that he is lying” is the dependent clause. Here it is a noun clause as it is the object of the verb, “know”.
A complex sentence can add variety and depth to our writing. From the above article, when we use simple sentence, it is difficult to convey the ideas explicitly. But when we use complex sentences, we can convey cause and effect, progression of events etc., clearly, with the help of subordinate clauses, selecting most suitable subordinate conjunctions.