G3: Complex & Compound-Complex Sentences

Complex &
Compound-complex sentences

Understanding Complex sentences

Subject - the topic of the sentence

Predicate - the action word in the sentence

Independent clause - a group of words with at least one subject and one verb
that form a complete thought

Dependent clause - a group of words with a subject and verb that do not form a
complete thought

Complex sentence - a sentence with a dependent clause and an independent
clause

Complex Sentence Examples:

Before we go to the store, my mother always makes a grocery list.

dependent clause independent clause

She believed in fairy tales when she was a young girl.

Independent clause dependent

Understanding Compound-Complex Sentences

Independent clause - a group of words with at least one subject and one verb
that form a complete thought

Dependent clause - a group of words with a subject and verb that do not form a
complete thought

Conjunction - a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

examples: for, and, or, but, yet, so, since,

Compound-complex sentence - a sentence with a dependent clause and
multiple independent clauses

Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences:

Before going to the store, (my mother makes a grocery list), and (I put the reusable bags in the trunk.)

dependent independent C independent

(I had a burrito for lunch), but (Steven has a sandwich) that his mother made for him.

Independent C independent dependent

Match

Match the following terms:

• independent clause

• dependent clause

• conjunction

• predicate

• subject

a group of words with at least one subject and one verb that form a complete thought

a group of words with a subject and verb that do not form a complete thought

a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

the action word in the sentence

the topic of a sentence

• a group of words with at least one subject and one verb that form a complete thought

• a group of words with a subject and verb that do not form a complete thought

• a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

• the action word in the sentence

• the topic of a sentence

Match

Match the following:

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

independent clause

a sentence with 2 independent clauses joined together by a conjunction

a sentence with a dependent clause and an independent clause

a sentence with a dependent clause and multiple independent clauses

• independent clause

• a sentence with 2 independent clauses joined together by a conjunction

• a sentence with a dependent clause and an independent clause

• a sentence with a dependent clause and multiple independent clauses

Multiple Choice

Identify the sentence below:

Lucy knows my name, but she forgot it when she went to introduce me to her parents.

• Simple

• Complex

• Compound

• Compound-complex

Multiple Choice

The baseball player struck out.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Multiple Choice

Identify the sentence below:

People by less when prices go up.

• complex

• compound

• simple

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

I love eating turkey at Christmas, but my friend's family eats tamales because it is a tradition.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Even though she is very rich, she is still unhappy.

• simple

• complex

• compound

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

After they left school, Sam and Lily went to get frozen yogurt.

• complex

• compound-complex

• compound

• simple

Multiple Choice

While my parents went to the movies, I washed the dishes, and my brother mowed the lawn.

• simple

• complex

• compound

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

The school will not fund our club unless we can find a co-sponsor, but I have no ideas where to look.

• compound-complex

• simple

• complex

• compound

Multiple Choice

We are going on vacation, but we can only stay for three days.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Because my cocoa was too cold, I microwaved it for 30 seconds.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

It is starting to get dark, and we are not even there yet.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

While Jimbo bakes the cake, Owen mixes the frosting.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Mr. Richards assigned ten pages of the novel for homework, but since I read ahead, I only need to read three pages.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex