Complex Sentences

Plain English If a sentence begins with a phrase, clause, or transition, you probably need a comma to separate it from the independent clause that follows. In other words… Use a comma after an introduction or an opener.

What’s it look like? Dependent clause + , + independent clause + . = complex sentence. or Opener, sentence.

Dependent v. Independent An independent clause has a noun and a verb and expresses a COMPLETE thought. You are in eighth grade. A dependent clause has a noun and a verb and does NOT express a complete thought. Since you are in eighth grade.

AAAWWUBBIS! Certain words can signal writers that a comma may be needed after the opener. When an AAAWWUBBIS words is the first word of a sentence, a comma will be needed. A.K.A… subordinate conjunctions

AAAWWUBBIS Words As When Before Although Unless If After Because Since While

A few examples… If you can’t annoy somebody, there is little point in writing. ~Kingsley Amis, The King’s English When summer comes to the North Woods, time slows down. ~Jennifer Donnelly, A Northern Light

Complex sentences CAN be combined with other sentence structures. When I saw the woman, she reminded me of a bird. Though her hair was white with age, she walked with small, quick, lively steps. ~ Laurence Yep, The Star Fisher