What is a type of sentence made up of one independent clause and one or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction?

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent and at least one dependent clause (sometimes called a subordinate clause). An independent clause is a phrase that would make sense if it were a sentence on its own, whereas a dependent clause will not form a sentence on its own. When these two types of clauses appear in a sentence, we create a complex sentence.

Consider this example:

• I like to eat the candy before I watch a movie.

“I like to eat the candy” is an independent clause as it would make a complete sentence on its own.

“Before I watch a movie” is a dependent clause, as it doesn’t make a complete sentence on its own. It is ‘dependent’ on the first clause for the phrase to make sense.

Complex Sentence Definition

The definition of a complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Examples of Complex Sentences

In the examples of complex sentences below, the dependent clause comes first. Notice that the dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (words like since, because, while) and that the clauses are separated by a comma:

• Because he was late again, he would be docked a day’s pay.
• While I am a passionate basketball fan, I prefer football.
• Although she was considered smart, she failed all her exams.
• Whenever it rains, I like to wear my blue coat.

In the complex sentence examples shown below, the independent clause comes first. Notice that in most examples there is no separation of the clauses by a comma, which is the general rule in complex sentences starting with an independent clause. However, the last example has a comma as it is an example of an extreme contrast. This extreme contrast refers to the clauses expressing ideas that are almost opposite in meaning or that must be heavily emphasized.

• Having a party is a bad idea because the neighbors will complain.
• I am extremely happy since I retired.
• The dog jumped on his lap while he was eating.
• Annie was still crying, although she had been happy about the news.

Independent and Dependent Clauses

We have mentioned several times that a complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. But what are clauses in a sentence? And why are they important in grammar?

Let’s look back at the earlier example of a complex sentence:

• I like to eat candy before I watch a movie.

As we stated earlier, “I like to eat candy” is an independent clause. It makes sense as a standalone sentence.  “Before I watch a movie” does not make sense on its own. However, let’s tweak the sentence a bit:

• I like to eat candy, but I don’t like to eat popcorn.

The sentence now contains two independent clauses, as “I like to eat candy” and “I don’t like to eat popcorn” could both form complete sentences. The example has now become a compound sentence, i.e. one that contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (but).

However, there is an important distinction to be made when a subordinating conjunction is added to a clause. These words – such as since, whenever, although, because – act to make a clause a dependent clause, even if it looks like an independent clause.

• I like to eat candy (independent clause – makes sense on its own).
• Because I like to eat candy (dependent clause – does not make sense on its own without more information).

Common Complex Sentence Examples

As we have seen with the previous examples, the structure for a complex sentence essentially looks like this:

• Dependent Clause + Independent Clause (comma splits the clause)
• Independent Clause + Dependent Clause (comma usually does not split the clause)

So, using that structure we can easily form examples of complex sentences:

• Because she was scoring many baskets, Elesa was considered the best player on the team.
• Elesa was considered the best player on the team because she was scoring many baskets.
• Since Hannah got here, she’s been nothing but trouble.
• Hannah has been nothing but trouble since she got here.

You should also be aware that a complex sentence can contain more than one dependent clause. Here are some examples of those types of complex sentences:

• Because I was often late, and since I was always forgetting things, I was regarded as a scatterbrain by my friends.
• Although the war ended, and as people tend to have short memories, the city’s people were still divided over its impact.

Complex Sentences from Literature

Below are some quotes from that classic books that can be considered complex sentences:

• “Because he was so small, Stuart was often hard to find around the hou”
  E.B White – Stuart Little
• “I’ve never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.”
  George Eliot – The Mill on the Floss
• “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”
  John Steinbeck — East of Eden

The 4 Types of Sentence Structure

A complex sentence is, of course, just one type of sentence we can use in writing. The four types of sentence are discussed below:

As we have mentioned, a complex sentence is one with an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Example:

• Whenever he was lonely, Lance called his mother.

A compound sentence is one with two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, but, and, nor, or, yet, so).

Example:

• I was born in the United States, yet I consider myself Canadian.

A simple sentence is one with only one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

Example:

• David drives carefully to work in the morning.

1. A Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence is one with at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• Jim doesn’t drink beer because he has a gluten allergy, so he tends to drink wine most weekends.

Subordinating Conjunctions

There are dozens of subordinating conjunctions in English, and their usage is intrinsically linked to dependent (subordinate) clauses.

Common examples of subordinating conjunctions include: After, before, even though, although, as much as, when, whenever, because, as long as, while, since. These words and phrases act as modifiers to a sentence, sometimes changing the phrase from an independent clause to a dependent clause.

There are two main ways to think about subordinating clauses:

• A word or phrase that introduces a dependent clause.
• A word or phrase that links an independent and dependent clause.

Using Subordinate Clauses in Complex Sentences

As we mentioned earlier, a subordinate clause is another way of terming a dependent clause. Both words, subordinate and dependent, offer clues to help us better understand the function of these clauses in writing. Dependent means contingent on or determined by, whereas subordinate means lower in rank or position. That tells us that – grammatically speaking – subordinate/dependent clauses are not equal to the independent clause in a sentence.

The independent clause and subordinate clause are not equal because the latter cannot form a sentence on its own. The subordinate clause is, as such, dependent on the independent clause to provide the complete meaning.

You cannot create a complex sentence without using a subordinate clause in it. Other types of sentences – compound sentences, simple sentences – can exist without subordinate clauses. When you think about it, the subordinate clause is what makes the sentence ‘complex’. The subordinate clause requires the help of the independent clause for it to make sense. It reaches back or forward across the sentence to contextualize itself, making the sentence more ‘complex’ in the process.

There are various types of sentences that we can use in our writing, helping to keep the reader interested and engaged. These different types of sentences vary based on their structures and the type and number of clauses they contain. This article will introduce the four main sentence types in English, explain how we form them, and provide plenty of examples.

Let's go...

Types of Sentences in English

There are four different types of sentences in the English language. They are:

• Simple sentences

• Compound sentences

• Complex sentences

• Compound-complex sentences

We can identify each sentence type by looking at the clauses. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb; they are the building blocks of sentences. There are two major clause types in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

• An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence and expresses a complete thought (i.e. doesn't rely on any more explanation). It always contains a subject and a verb.e.g. 'the Blue Whale is the biggest animal in the world.'e.g. 'I don't like peanut butter.'

• A dependent clause (also called a 'subordinate clause') cannot stand alone in a sentence as it does not express a complete thought. It often gives us additional information about an independent clause. Dependent clauses must still contain a subject and a verb.e.g. 'when Sarah arrives.' e.g. 'the one in France.'

We now know that sentence types vary depending on the clauses, and we know what the two types of clauses are. So, let's look at how we identify each sentence type.

Types of Sentences with Examples

Now that we know the different types of sentences let's look at each one in more detail and provide some examples.

Simple sentences

As the name suggests, this sentence type is the most simplistic of the three. It is made up of just one independent clause. Simple sentences can also contain modifiers and an object, but these aren't necessary for the sentence to make sense.

Examples of simple sentences

Here are some examples of simple sentences:

• The train leaves at 5 am!
• I couldn't find Mary at the park.
• Josh loves skiing.

Remember that independent clauses always have a subject and a verb. We can see this in the previous sentences. For example, in the first sentence, 'train' is the subject, and 'leaves' is the verb.

Simple sentences are often used to communicate things clearly. The sentences do not need added information and make sense on their own.

Compound sentences

Compound sentences combine two or more independent clauses (main clauses), joining them with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon (;).

• Coordinating conjunction – a connecting word that joins two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences that hold equal importance. The seven coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, nor, yet, so, for.

Compound sentences do not contain dependent clauses (clauses that rely on the rest of the sentence). If the two (or more) independent clauses weren't joined together, they would still work independently as simple sentences. Each independent clause must contain its own subject and verb.

Let's break down a compound sentence, explaining all the aspects that make it a compound sentence.

I need to go to work, but I am too sick to drive.

The first independent clause is 'I need to go to work' - it contains a subject (I ) and two verbs (need and go).

The second independent clause is 'I am too sick to drive' - it contains a subject (I ) and a verb (drive).

The two clauses are joined together with a comma and the coordinating conjunction but. If the two clauses were separated into two sentences, they would still make sense. E.g. I need to go to work. I am too sick to drive.

Comma splices

A common grammar mistake many people make when forming compound sentences is the comma splice. A comma splice is when two independent clauses are joined together with only a comma - this is incorrect and should be avoided! For example, 'Spiders have eight legs, they are arachnids.' is a grammatically incorrect sentence. When joining two independent clauses, we must use a comma alongside a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. E.g. 'Spiders have eight legs; they are arachnids.'

Examples of compound sentences

Here are some examples of compound sentences:

• He ran out of money, so he couldn't buy any lunch.
• The garden is huge; it has two ponds.
• I need to get up early, yet I cannot fall asleep.

Complex sentences are slightly different from the other two types of sentences as they include a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) and an independent clause.

The dependent clause adds extra information about the independent clause and cannot stand on its own as a complete thought. However, the dependent clause must still contain a subject and a verb. The two clauses are joined together using subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.

• Subordinating conjunction – a connecting word that links a dependent ('subordinate') clause to an independent clause e.g. although, because, rather than, even though, after, until.

• Relative pronoun – a connecting word that introduces a relative clause (i.e. a clause that gives more information about a noun) e.g. which, that, who, whose, whom, whoever.

Let's look at some examples of complex sentences. In the following sentences, the independent clauses are in blue, the connecting words are in red, and the dependent clauses are in green.

• I heated my food in the microwave because it had gone cold.
• Customers shop here often whenever the prices go down.
• Amy sent back her item after she realised it was damaged.

Let's look at the first sentence in more detail. The dependent clause 'it had gone cold' contains a subject and a verb, but doesn't make sense on its own as we wouldn't know what 'it' was referring to.

Compound-complex sentences

This type of sentence is made up of a combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence - as the name suggests!

Compound-complex sentences contain two (or more) independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. As they can include a lot of clauses, they are usually the longest sentence type.

The rules for linking the clauses together are the same for both compound and complex sentences:

Examples of complex-compound sentences

Here are some examples of complex-compound sentences. The independent clauses are in blue, the dependent clauses are in green, and the connectives are in red.

• When I grow up, I want to be a nurse, and I want to help people who are ill.
• After we went outside, I was feeling cold, and it started raining.
• I went to the pet shop, even though I didn't have any money, and I bought a cute kitten.

Identifying Sentence Types

Now that you've learned the differences between the four sentence types, let's think about how to identify them.

One way of doing this is to look out for the number of independent and dependent clauses:

• A simple sentence is easy to recognise as it has only one independent clause.

• A compound sentence contains two independent clauses and no dependent clauses.

• A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause.

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

We can also look at the types of connectives used in a sentence:

• Simple sentences don't contain any connectives.

• Coordinating conjunctions are used in compound sentences.

• Subordinating conjunctions are used in complex sentences.

• Both types of conjunctions are used in compound-complex sentences.

In this article, we have learned about the four sentence types: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. However, we have to be careful not to confuse sentence types with sentence functions (of which there are also four).

The four sentence functions are:

The difference between the types of sentences covered in this article and the functions of sentences is quite simple. 'Sentence type' refers to the layout and structure of the sentence, whereas 'sentence function' is talking about the content (i.e. what the sentence is used for).

Take a look at this sentence.

Will you wash the dishes?

This is a simple sentence (sentence type) and is also an interrogative (sentence function). This is because it only contains one independent clause and is an interrogative because it is asking a question.

Types of Sentence - Key Takeaways

• There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
• Simple sentences contain one independent clause.
• Compound sentences contain two (or more) independent clauses, joined together by a comma and a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
• Complex sentences contain at least one dependent clause linked to the main clause with a subordinating conjunction.
• Compound-complex sentences contain at least one dependent clause and at least two independent clauses.
• Sentence types differ from sentence functions.