Complex Sentences

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What is an independent clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

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What is a complex sentence?

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A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

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What is a dependent clause?

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A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

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What is an example of a complex sentence?

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An example of a complex sentence is: 'Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.'

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What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?

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An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

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What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

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A semicolon (;) or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is often used to separate independent clauses.

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Can a complex sentence have more than one dependent clause?

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Yes, a complex sentence can have multiple dependent clauses.

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What is a coordinating conjunction?

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A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (FANBOYS).

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What is an example of an independent clause?

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An example of an independent clause is: 'She enjoys reading books.'

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What role does a subordinating conjunction play in a complex sentence?

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A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause and shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.