Writing Complex Sentences

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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 has both a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

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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.

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Can a complex sentence stand alone?

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No, a complex sentence cannot stand alone because it contains a dependent clause.

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What is a compound sentence?

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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

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What are coordinating conjunctions?

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Coordinating conjunctions are words that connect two independent clauses. The most common ones are 'for', 'and', 'nor', 'but', 'or', 'yet', and 'so' (FANBOYS).

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Can you start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction?

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Yes, you can start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, although it is often discouraged in formal writing.

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What is an example of a dependent clause?

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An example of a dependent clause is 'because she was tired'.

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What is an example of a compound sentence?

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An example of a compound sentence is 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'

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How many independent clauses can a compound sentence have?

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A compound sentence can have two or more independent clauses.