Complex sentence
Encyclopedia
A complex sentence is a sentence with one independent clause
and at least one dependent clause
.
Examples of sentences that have more than one clause but are not complex sentences include the following:
Independent clause
An independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself, also known as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself....
and at least one dependent clause
Dependent clause
In linguistics, a dependent clause is a clause that augments an independent clause with additional information, but which cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses modify the independent clause of a sentence or serve as a component of it...
.
Examples
- I ate the meal that you cooked. (I ate the meal is an independent clause and that you cooked is a relative clauseRelative clauseA relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun phrase, most commonly a noun. For example, the phrase "the man who wasn't there" contains the noun man, which is modified by the relative clause who wasn't there...
.) - I enjoyed the apple pie that you bought for me. (I enjoyed the apple pie is an independent clause and that you bought for me is a relative clause.)
- I ate breakfast before I went to work. (I ate breakfast is an independent clause, and before I went to work is a dependent clause, meaning it cannot stand alone as a sentenceSentenceSentence or sentencing may refer to:* Sentence , a grammatical unit of language* Sentence , a formula with no free variables* Sentence , a particular type of musical phrase...
.)
Examples of sentences that have more than one clause but are not complex sentences include the following:
- I was scared, but I didn't run away. (Both clauses are independent. Therefore, this is a compound sentenceCompound sentenceA compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses. It does not require a dependent clause. The clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction , a correlative conjunction , a semicolon that functions as a conjunction, or a conjunctive adverb preceded by a semicolon. A conjunction...
but not a complex sentence.) - The dog that you gave me barked at me, and it bit my hand. (This is a compound-complex sentence with two independent clauses [The dog barked at me and It bit my hand] and one dependent clause [that you gave me].)
See also
- Simple sentenceSimple sentenceA simple sentence is a sentence structure that contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses.-Examples:*The runner jumped....
- Compound sentenceCompound sentence (linguistics)A compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses. It does not require a dependent clause. The clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction , a correlative conjunction , a semicolon that functions as a conjunction, or a conjunctive adverb preceded by a semicolon. A conjunction...
- Complex-compound sentenceComplex-compound sentenceA complex-compound sentence or compound-complex sentence is a sentence with at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses .-Example:...