Complex Sentences However Even though Which Where Whose Although That Because While Since Whether As long as Until So that If Unless Once Before

What is a complex sentence? A complex sentence includes: One independent clause AND One dependent clause Independent clause + Dependent clause = Complex Sentence

Review: Independent Clause Remember that an independent clause is the same as a simple sentence. It can stand alone as an understandable thought. It has a subject and a predicate (verb). Example of an independent clause: The writer spent the day at the computer.

What is a dependent clause? A dependent clause is also known as a subordinate clause. A dependent clause cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence; it can only be part of sentence. It’s a group of words that contains a subject and verb, but it requires the addition of an independent clause to make it a complete thought. Example of a dependent clause: Because the writer spent the day at the computer . . .

Because the writer spent the day at the computer . . . Though the group of words includes a subject and verb, this thought is not complete. It leaves us with a question: What happened BECAUSE the writer spent the day at the computer? Because the writer spent the day at the computer, she completed her novel. Now this is a complete thought; this is a complex sentence. The 2nd clause answers what happened as a result of the 1st clause.

Why use a complex sentence? When combining two independent clauses (simple sentences), look for a relationship between your ideas and use a subordinating conjunction.

Relationship between Ideas Adverb clauses can help you connect relationships between ideas. Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that give more details about the rest of the sentence. Time: After the writer spent the day at the computer, she was very tired. Cause and Effect: Because the writer spent the day at the computer, she finished her novel.

Relationship between Ideas Other relationships that adverb clauses can help you communicate: Condition: Unless the writer spent the day at the computer, she wouldn’t be able to finish her novel. Contrast: Although the writer spent the day at the computer, she really wanted to be at the park.

Moving the dependent clause Note: Although all of the dependent clauses in our examples occur at the beginning of the sentences, they could be moved to the end of sentence. Adverb clauses can fit anywhere in a sentence: At the beginning, between the subject and the verb, or at the end of a sentence. They usually begin with a signal word.

Test the move; does it work? After the writer spent the day at the computer, she was very tired. Because the writer spent the day at the computer, she finished her novel. Unless the writer spent the day at the computer, she wouldn’t be able to finish her novel. Although the writer spent the day at the computer, she really wanted to be at the park.

Subordinate Conjunctions Condition: If Unless In Case Whether Even if Only if Whether or not Contrast: Although Even though While Though Whereas Time: After Before When While Until Since Cause and Effect: Because Now that As long as So In order that As

Give it a try! With a partner, create 8 complex sentences. Create 2 complex sentences for each type of adverb dependent clause. 2 complex sentences showing a TIME relationship 2 showing a CAUSE and EFFECT relationship 2 showing a CONDITION relationship 2 showing a CONTRAST relationship