Compound-Complex Sentences

Compound-Complex Sentences

What is a clause?

It is a simple sentence with at least one subject and one verb.

Independent Clause:

• It's a complete sentence that makes a statement or asks a question.

• Example: The dog barks.

Dependent Clause

• It cannot act as a complete sentence because it beings with a subordinating word, such as when, because, if, whoever, etc.

• Example: When the dog barks.

Multiple Select

Check all of the dependent clauses.

• The cat meows.

• When the cat is fed.

• Because she is hungry.

• She ate a sandwich.

The Compound Sentence

• A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so) and a comma or by a semicolon alone.

• Example: The pirate captain lost her treasure map, but she still found the buried treasure.

Multiple Choice

Which one is the compound sentence?

• Because she forgot her lunch, she bought a hamburger.

• I will take my kids to a movie, or I will stay home.

The Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence combines a dependent clause with an independent clause. When the dependent clause is placed before the independent clause, the two clauses are divided by a comma; otherwise, no punctuation is necessary.

• Example: Because the soup was cold, I warmed it in the microwave.

Multiple Choice

Which one is the complex sentence?

• She goes to the beach, and she takes her dog.

• Because I lost it, I paid the library fines.

Making Compound-Complex Sentences

• A compound-complex sentence is comprised of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clause.

• Example: Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films, he rented the latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it very much.

• Example: Laura forgot her friend's birthday, so she sent her a card when she finally remembered.

Multiple Choice

Which one is a compound-complex sentence?

• While Mom went into the post office, I read my Harry Potter book in the van.

• Kate doesn't like cartoons because they are loud, so she doesn't watch them.

• I wanted to buy a new Lego set with my birthday money, but my mom made me put all of it in the bank.

Now practice!

Identify which type of sentence it is.

Multiple Choice

The dog started barking so the cat ran away and I couldn't keep up, so I stopped.

• Compound

• Compound-Complex

• Complex

Multiple Choice

Collin practices basketball for thirty minutes a day.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

Multiple Choice

Regan was dreading the test, yet she just wanted to get it over with.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

Multiple Choice

Unless you already know how to divide fractions.

• intendent clause

• dependent clause

Multiple Choice

We're going to be late if we don't hurry!

• Simple

• Complex

• Compound

Multiple Choice

I'm going to put orange or pink frosting on the cupcakes since those are Andrea's favorite colors.

• Compound-Complex

• Compound

• Complex

Multiple Choice

I wanted to invite her to my birthday party, but I didn't know her address or phone number.

• Compound

• Compound-Complex

• Complex

Multiple Choice

We won the game, but my uniform was muddy because it rained the entire time.

• Compound

• Compound-Complex

• Complex

Multiple Choice

Kate doesn’t like cartoons.

• dependent clause

• independent clause

Multiple Choice

I am not hungry because I ate a sandwich thirty minutes ago.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

Multiple Choice

Usually I take a walk every day while the sun sets, but it was raining today

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Multiple Choice

Before we go to the bank.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

Multiple Choice

Since there is a 50% chance of rain, I'm going to bring an umbrella on our field trip.

• Complex

• Compound

• Compound-Complex