Compound-Complex Sentences

Compound-Complex Sentences

By Rebecca Norris

One independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

The dependent clause will begin with an AAAWWWUUBBIS or a relative pronoun.​

​Complex Sentence

Two independent clauses joined with a comma and FANBOYS

​

Compound Sentence

Compound-Complex??

Examples coming up!

Compound Sentence

​Contains a comma and FANBOYS

Horses are beautiful. They run fast.

​

Horses are beautiful, and they run fast. ​

The comma and FANBOYS can be replaced with a semicolon. That is not as common, though.

Complex Sentence

Has an AAAWWWUUBBIS or relative pronoun

Horse racing is popular. Many people think it is cruel.

​

Although horse racing is popular, many people think it is cruel.​

If the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, it MUST be followed by a comma!

Multiple Choice

Which type of sentence contains a FANBOYS?

• simple

• compound

• complex

• interrogative

Multiple Choice

Which type of sentence contain at least one dependent clause?

• simple

• compound

• complex

• interrogative

​Compound-Complex

This type of sentence combines the characteristics of both the compound sentence and the complex sentence.

​

It contains two independent clauses joined with a comma and FANBOYS, AND​ at least one dependent clause with an AAAWWWUUBBIS or a relative pronoun.

Subject | Subject

Sounds crazy!

Compound-Complex Sentence

Here's an example...

Although there are people who do not think that horseracing is ethical, others enjoy watching it, and they attend races on a regular basis.

Let's break it down.

The parts of this sentence

​The complex part of the sentence

Although there are people who do not think that horseracing is ethical,

The parts of this sentence

The compound part of the sentence

others enjoy watching it, and they attend races on a regular basis.

Multiple Choice

A compound-complex sentence contains...

• a FANBOYS

• an AAAWWWUUBBIS or relative pronoun

• both independent and dependent clauses

• all of these

Just break it down.

First, find the FANBOYS.

It's easy to spot a FANBOYS, so look for that first.

​

Then, make sure that the FANBOYS is joining two independent clauses.​

Easy, right?

Just break it down.

Compound? Check.

Once you've established that the sentence is at least compound, you can verify the complex part.

You can do it!

Just break it down.

Find an AAAWWWUUBBIS (or relative pronoun)

Locate an AAAWWWUUBBIS next. Or, find a relative pronoun (that, which, who, whose, whom) in the rest of the sentence.

​

Once you find that, you know that your sentence contains the parts of a complex sentence.​

Don't give up!

And put it back together

And whoop! There it is...

Does it have...

• FANBOYS? Check.

• AAAWWWUUBBIS? Check​

If it looks like a compound-complex sentence, and it sounds like a compound-complex sentence...

It is a compound-complex sentence!

Multiple Choice

Which is the dependent clause in this sentence? After the dance began, we found our friends in the other room, and we invited them to stay with us.

• After the dance began

• we found our friends in the other room,

• we invited them to stay with us

Multiple Select

Identify the independent clauses in this compound-complex sentence. Before my friend cooked the meal, Joelle and Allen shopped at the supermarket near our house, and they bought five bags of groceries.

• Before my friend cooked the meal

• Joelle and Allen shopped at the supermarket near our house

• they bought five bags of groceries

Multiple Choice

Find the dependent clause in this compound-complex sentence.

Unless they read several books, Sherry and Alia may not have enough information for research, and they will not be able to write their papers.

• Unless they read several books

• Sherry and Alia may not have enough information for research

• they will not be able to write their papers

Multiple Select

Identify the independent clauses in this compound-complex sentence. Antonio and Rachel, who are friends, went to the mall yesterday, but they did not buy anything.

• Antonio and Rachel went to the mall yesterday

• who are friends

• they did not buy anything

Multiple Choice

Find the dependent clause in this compound-complex sentence. The package, which was sitting on the porch, arrived during our lunch hour, or it came early in the morning.

• The package arrived during our lunch hour

• which was sitting on the porch

• it came early in the morning

Multiple Select

Identify the independent clauses in this compound-complex sentence. It took a long time, but we found the perfect sweater for Miguel, who loves to wear bright colors.

• It took a long time

• we found the perfect sweater for Miguel

• who loves to wear bright colors

Multiple Choice

Identify the dependent clause in this compound-complex sentence. Francesca, who attained a perfect score, found a more challenging book to read, so she shared it with the class.

• Francesca found a more challenging book to read

• who attained a perfect score

• she shared it with the class

Multiple Select

Identify the independent clauses in this compound-complex sentence. The food that I served was delicious, and everyone ate plenty of it.

• The food was delicious

• that I served

• everyone ate plenty of it

Multiple Choice

Classify the sentence as compound, complex, or compound-complex. Pack your bags, and we will be on our way to British Columbia for a vacation.

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Classify the sentence as compound, complex, or compound-complex. Although I enjoy playing games, I did not like the new video game, so I read a book for an hour.

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Classify the sentence as compound, complex, or compound-complex. Although all her friends encouraged her, Alice decided not to compete in the race.

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Classify the sentence as compound, complex, or compound-complex. Even though she was exhausted, Maria listened quietly to her friend's story, and she thought carefully before speaking.

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Poll

On a scale of 1 to 4, how well do you understand compound sentences (two independent clauses joined with a comma and FANBOYS)?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Poll

On a scale of 1 to 4, how well do you understand complex sentences (one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, joined by an AAAWWWUUBBIS or relative pronoun)?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Poll

On a scale of 1 to 4, how well do you understand compound-complex sentences (has both FANBOYS and AAAWWWUUBBIS, plus independent and dependent clauses)?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Open Ended

What questions do you still have about compound, complex, or compound-complex sentences?