5.1.2: Working with Language- Complex Sentences

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The third in our series on sentence structure is complex sentences. Using a variety of sentence types (simple, compound, and complex) will make your writing more sophisticated.

What Is a Complex Sentence?

Like compound sentences, complex sentences have two clauses. Look at this sentence. The subjects are bold, the predicates (verb phrases) are underlined, and the conjunction in the middle is in a box.

Camilla quit her job when she received a gift of $6,000.

There are two clauses here, but they are not equal:

Camilla quit her job – this can stand alone.
When she received a gift of $6,000 – this has no meaning without the first part.

The first clause is an independent clause. The second is a dependent clause: it needs the first clause to give it meaning. It cannot stand alone.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions (aka subordinators). The chart below shows a list of common subordinating conjunctions sorted by their functions in a sentence.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

To show time

when

before

after

while

whenever

once

as soon as

To give a reason

because

since

To describe a condition

as long as

unless

in case

until

whether (or not)

To show an unexpected result

although

even though

though

To show a purpose

so that

To show a contrast

whereas

while

although

though

Complex Sentences--Examples

As soon as I got home from school, I ate a sandwich.
I ate a sandwich as soon as I got home from school.
You look as though you have seen a ghost.
The boy ran home as if a killer was chasing him.
My students have trouble writing sentences, whereas I can write sentences easily.*
Texas is a large state, while Connecticut is quite small.*
Since you need to learn how to speak clearly, I ask you to pronounce new words carefully.
I took a bus downtown on Saturday so that I could save money on gas and parking.
Unless you study hard for the final exam, you will not get a passing grade.
My friend failed the examination even though she studied hard.

Compound or Complex?

If you are not sure whether a sentence is compound or complex, or whether a conjunction is coordinating or subordinating, ask yourself this question: Can I move the conjunction to the beginning of the sentence and change the order of the clauses? You cannot do this with coordinating conjunctions, but you can with subordinating conjunctions. Look at this:

Camilla quit her job when she won the lottery.

When she won the lottery, Camilla quit her job.

Exercise 5:

Combine the simple sentences below to make one complex sentence using a subordinator. There may be more than one correct answer.

His mother was a single parent. She always bought presents at Christmas.

________________________________________________________________________

He lost a lot of weight. He was able to play sports.

________________________________________________________________________

Houston is a big, urban city. Seguin is a small, rural town.

________________________________________________________________________

I would love to write a novel. I don’t have enough patience to sit and write.

________________________________________________________________________

5. Sam was driving home from work. He saw a bear on the road.

________________________________________________________________________

6. I often leave campus late at night. I always feel nervous.

________________________________________________________________________

Take a map on your hike in the mountains. You won't get lost.

________________________________________________________________________

Drive east from Houston on I-10. You will eventually come to Louisiana.

________________________________________________________________________

Ken had a life-changing visit to Europe. He decided to become a history teacher.

________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 6: Use the following subordinators to make original complex sentences. (Write your own sentences!)

1. although

2. because

3. while

4. after

5. if

6. as long as

7. whereas

8. until

9. even though

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