1. From the creators of “Simple & Compound Sentences” Von Steuben’s English Department is proud to present
COMPLEX SENTENCES

2. Simple Sentences Review
A simple sentence is also known as an independent clause; this means it has a
clear subject (or noun) and predicate (verb).
BTW: A sentence MUST express a complete
thought, otherwise it is considered a sentence fragment, a.k.a. an DEPENDENT CLAUSE.
Ex. 1 Zeus was the king of all the gods.
Ex. 2 His behavior was sometimes dishonorable.

3. Compound Sentence Review
Compound sentences are created using one of three methods to join two independent clauses together:
Method 1: a comma + a conjunction (FANBOYS word)
Method 2: a semi-colon (;),or
Method 3: a semi-colon + conjunctive adverb.
For example (using Method 3):
Zeus was the king of all the gods; however, his behavior was not always honorable.

4. Complex Sentences
A dependent clause is also known as a sentence fragment,
or a phrase that does not express a complete thought.
Therefore, a complex sentence is created using one of two
methods
Method 1: independent clause + dependent clause.
Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)
Method 2: Dependent clause + a comma (,) + independent clause
EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)

5. Helpful Hints
Hint #1: Complex Sentences often show cause-and-effect in your writing.
Hint #2: In order to identify a complex sentence, look for the subordinating conjunction!!
Hint #3: There is NO COMMA before the subordinating conjunction.

6. Subordinating Conjunctions
Think: BABAWUWUIST
Before
When If
After
Unless
Since
Because
While
Through
Although
Until

7. Dependent clause + a comma (,) + Independent clause
Now You Try!
With a neighbor, write a complex sentence about your childhood hero using BOTH methods (2 mins)
Method 1:
Independent clause + Dependent clause.
Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)
Method 2:
Dependent clause + a comma (,) + Independent clause
EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)

8. Compound-complex Sentences
…and now for something a little different, allow me to introduce…
Compound-complex Sentences

9. Review
Simple sentences have one main clause and no subordinate clauses
Compound sentences have two or more main clauses, but no subordinate clauses.
Subordinate Clauses (a.k.a. “sentence fragments” are clauses that are missing either a subject or predicate and therefore cannot stand alone)
HINT: Look for BABAWUISTA words as clues

10. Complex & Compound-Complex Sentences are Slightly Different
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses
For Example:
Because we had the day off,
(subordinating clause)
we slept-in until the midafternoon.
(independent clause)

11. Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence has more than one main clause and at least one subordinate clause.
For Example:
Although it was a Tuesday, we slept-in until midafternoon
(subordinating clause) (independent clause)
because parent-teacher conferences were scheduled for the day
(subordinating clause)
and while our parents have to come to school,
we didn’t have to go to our classes that day.
(independent clause)

12. Student Practice
In the Writer’s Choice textbook, pages , Practice 6-8*.
Read the directions and complete the tasks for Practice 6 & 7
For Practice 8 although the directions ask for a variety of sentences types, you’ll only need to create 1 of each type (four total):
Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound-Complex
*For your convenience, a PDF version of this activity has been uploaded to BOTH vonsteuben.org & the Student Portal