1. Written by Gary Martin
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
Resource for all grades.

2. A complex sentence contains two clauses
A complex sentence contains two clauses. One is an independent clause which is a complete thought. The other is a
dependant clause which
is an incomplete thought.

3. A complex sentence is not the
same as a compound sentence.
The difference is a compound sentence has two independent clauses.

4. For example:
The astronaut left the vehicle when the meteor smashed it.
The astronaut left the vehicle is a complete thought. When the meteor smashed it is not a complete thought.

5. Can you spot the independent clause and the dependent clause in each sentence?

6. If there are Martians on Mars, NASA has not succeeded in finding them.

7. If there are Martians on Mars, NASA has not succeeded in finding them.
If there are Martians on Mars, is not a complete thought.
NASA has not succeeded in finding them is a complete thought.

8. Since Bob took a nap, he was late for school.

9. Since Bob took a nap, he was late for school.
Since Bob took a nap is a subordinate clause.
He was late for school is an independent
clause.

10. When the salmon jumped up the water fall, the bear ate breakfast.

11. When the salmon jumped up the water fall, the bear ate breakfast.
When the salmon jumped up the water fall is an incomplete thought.
The bear ate breakfast is a complete thought.

12. The carpenter who built this barn is my neighbor.

13. The carpenter who built this barn is my neighbor.
The carpenter is my neighbor is the complete clause.
Who built this barn is not a question. It is a subordinate clause.

14. When the bell rang, we ran to the bus.

15. When the bell rang, we ran to the bus.
We ran to the bus is a complete thought.

16. When the bell rang, we ran to the bus.
The End.

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