Understanding Complex Sentences

This lesson builds on previous knowledge of dependent clauses by teaching how to join them with independent clauses to form complex sentences. It covers punctuation rules, the impact of clause order on emphasis, and the use of subordinating conjunctions to convey different relationships. The lesson concludes with practice instructions and a preview of compound complex sentences.

What is a complex sentence composed of?

• Two independent clauses

• Three independent clauses

• One independent clause and one dependent clause

• Two dependent clauses

When a dependent clause precedes an independent clause, what punctuation is required?

• A comma

• A period

• A semicolon

• No punctuation

If a dependent clause starts with 'which', what punctuation rule applies?

• A period separates the clauses

• A semicolon separates the clauses

• A comma separates the clauses

• No punctuation is needed

Why is it important to consider the placement of information in independent and dependent clauses?

• To make sentences longer

• To emphasize the information in the independent clause

• To avoid using punctuation

• To confuse the reader

What effect does placing the independent clause at the beginning of a sentence have?

• It emphasizes the information in the dependent clause

• It emphasizes the information in the independent clause

• It makes the sentence grammatically incorrect

• It requires a semicolon

What is the role of subordinating conjunctions in complex sentences?

• To connect two independent clauses

• To convey relationships between clauses

• To replace punctuation

• To make sentences shorter

Which subordinating conjunction would you use to indicate a cause or reason?

• Though

• Where

• If

• Because

How does the conjunction 'when' affect the meaning of a sentence?

• It emphasizes place

• It emphasizes time

• It emphasizes condition

• It emphasizes cause

What should you do after completing the practice activity in the module?

• Review the Basics of Syntax handout

• Move on to the next lesson

• Save your work

• Start a new module

What will be discussed in the second part of Lesson 5?

• Simple sentences

• Subordinating conjunctions

• Compound complex sentences

• Punctuation rules