Complex sentences

Complex sentences

subordinating conjunctions

comma

Compound or Complex

• Compound sentences contain a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

• I will have a large pizza , for I'm starving.

• Complex sentences contain a subordinating conjunction (other conjunctions than FANBOYS).

• I will have a large pizza because I'm starving.

• Because I'm starving, I'll have a pizza.

Open Ended

What is the difference between the following sentences:

1. I will have a pizza, for I'm starving.

2. I will have a pizza because I'm starving.

3. Because I'm starving, I'll have a pizza.

The answer to the previous question

• 1. I will have a pizza, for I'm starving.

  The sentence is compound as we used a coordinating conjunction (for).

• We also used a comma before the conjunction.

The answer to the previous question

• 2. I will have a pizza because I'm starving.

  The sentence is complex as we used a subordinating conjunction (because).

• But we didn't use a comma before the conjunction.

The answer to the previous question

• 3. Because I'm starving, I'll have a pizza.

  The sentence is complex as we used a subordinating conjunction (because).

• We used a comma in the middle of the sentence to seperate the two clauses.

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