English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 48: Complex sentences
Unit 16: Combining sentences
Part III: Getting started with sentences
In the last lesson , we talked about compound sentences such as:
1. Beth said hello to her mother’s friend and then she walked outside.
Each of the sentences (clauses) that is part of the compound sentence plays an equal role in the sentence; one clause is not superior to or more important than the other, in terms of the structure of the sentence.
Now let’s look at some other sentences:
2. Harry was only fifteen when his mother sent him away to school.
3. Mr. Edwards looked her straight in the eye although he wasn’t really sincere.
4. I won’t tell you the answer unless you agree to help.
Sentences 2-4 also each contain two sentences, or clauses, which are combined to make a larger sentence. However, one of these sentences is more important than the other. The more important sentence is called the main clause, or independent clause; the less important sentence, the one that is a subpart of the main clause, is called the dependent clause or subordinate clause (see Lesson 19). Each clause, whether it’s a main clause or subordinate clause, has its own subject and verb phrase. Sentences that contain a main clause and at least one dependent clause are called complex sentences.
The main clause of each of the following sentences is in bold; the dependent clause is underlined:
5. Harry was only fifteen when his mother sent him away to school.
6. Mr. Edwards looked her straight in the eye although he wasn’t really sincere.
7. I won’t tell you the answer unless you agree to help.
Quick tip 48.1
A complex sentence consists of at least two sentences (clauses): a main clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause is a subpart of the main clause and adds information to it. Example, with the dependent clause underlined: Sally visited her before she moved.
Recall that, in a compound sentence, the clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, or, and but. In a complex sentence, the dependent clause is joined to the rest of the sentence by a subordinating conjunction. (We introduced subordinating conjunctions in Lesson 19; you may want to check back there to refresh your memory.) The common subordinating conjunctions of English are repeated here for reference.
Quick tip 48.2
A dependent clause is joined to another clause by a subordinating conjunction such as although, if, where.
Quick tip 48.3
The easiest way to identify a dependent clause is to look for a subordinating conjunction and see if it’s followed by a sentence. If it is, then the subordinating conjunction plus the sentence directly following it is a dependent clause.
Test yourself 48.1
For each complex sentence below, underline the dependent clause. Remember to look for the subordinating conjunction, which is the first word of the dependent clause.
Sample: Helen stared in dismay at the floor after she opened the dining room door.
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. His father is returning to London because the furniture is arriving.
2. Selma smiled at him although she had never felt less like smiling.
3. He felt a great affection for his guardian until he discovered the truth.
4. I am going to solve this crossword puzzle even if it takes me all day.
5. James accepted the job before he checked with his wife.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Sammy passed the final exam even though he had not studied hard.
7. You are behaving as if you were the boss.
8. I will not speak to you unless you tell me the truth.
9. New Orleans has not been the same since it was devastated by a hurricane.
10. Al tries to speak French when he is in Montreal.
In the complex sentences we’ve looked at so far, the dependent clause follows the main clause. But sometimes the dependent clause comes before the main clause. (Again, see Lesson 19.) In these next examples of complex sentences, the dependent clauses are underlined:
8. After he uttered her name, an awful silence fell on the room.
9. While we hurried to the restaurant, the rain continued to pour.
10. Even though she was a di/cult woman, they had a good marriage.
Test yourself 48.2
For each complex sentence below, underline the dependent clause. Remember to look for the subordinating conjunction, which is the first word of the dependent clause. The dependent clause will either be before or after the main clause.
Sample: If you continue on this highway, you’ll end up in the wrong place.
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. When Elizabeth spoke, Ben listened attentively.
2. Before you blame him, think about your own responsibility.
3. You should pay for automobile insurance even if your car is old.
4. Unless the train arrives soon, we’ll miss our appointment.
5. The district attorney won’t rest till he finds the perpetrator.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. While you were away, important changes took place.
7. As you know, UCL Awon the Pac-10 championship.
8. If you really want it, I will loan you my laptop.
9. After he was released from the hospital, he had to rest for a week.
10. She is going to succeed wherever she ends up.
Test yourself 48.3
For each complex sentence below, underline the subject of the dependent clause (not of the main clause).
Sample: I had an interesting conversation with him while we were walking home.
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. Even though the village supported the emperor, it still paid numerous taxes.
2. I like to sit on the balcony when the weather is nice.
3. George did it because he recognized the woman.
4. Once I have made up my mind, I usually do not change it.
5. Someone rang the doorbell while we were having lunch.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Zachary was behaving as though he knew the answer.
7. She was not sure whether she should travel to that country.
8. The bus arrived at the station before I could finish the newspaper.
9. They started learning Chinese so that they could understand their in-laws better.
10. After you left, I began washing the dishes.
A complex sentence contains only one main clause, but it can contain more than one dependent clause. In the following examples, there is a main clause and two dependent clauses. The main clause is again in bold; the dependent clauses are underlined. Notice that we sometimes have flexibility in terms of the placement of each of the clauses.
11a. Harry was only fifteen when his mother sent him away to school, although he looked much older.
11b. When his mother sent him away to school, Harry was only fifteen, although he looked much older.
11c. Although he looked much older when his mother sent him away to school, Harry was only fifteen.
12a. I won’t tell you the answer unless you agree to help, because this issue is confidential.
12b. Unless you agree to help, I won’t tell you the answer, because this issue is confidential.
12c. Because this issue is confidential, unless you agree to help, I won’t tell you the answer.
Test yourself 48.4
For each sentence below, decide if it is a simple sentence or a complex sentence. Some complex sentences will have more than one dependent clause.
Sample: Those two brothers always dress alike. simple
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. The two horses thrived on the ranch because they received excellent care.
2. Another little girl will be arriving at the school before noon today.
3. The old housekeeper welcomed her warmly when her mother was present.
4. The general returned home with his family.
5. As we approached our destination, we became rather emotional.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. When the actor entered the stage, the audience clapped enthusiastically.
7. If you promise not to tell anyone, I will let you in on a secret, even though I shouldn’t.
8. We are not going to the beach until it stops raining.
9. Unless you stop complaining, we are turning right around.
10. He likes foreign movies a lot.
Test yourself 48.5
For each sentence below, indicate if it is a simple sentence, a compound sentence, or a complex sentence. Be sure to determine the kind of conjunction (coordinating or subordinating) in order to help you decide.
Sample: We were always polite to one another although we were never close. complex
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. She pursued her goals relentlessly but she didn’t always achieve them.
2. I have made numerous mistakes over the years.
3. I won’t tell you unless you agree to help because I can’t take the risk.
4. Jason and Ilene had to renew their passports before they could leave the country.
5. Baby boomers were born before this century.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. He insisted, but I still did not believe him.
7. You can watch TV all night long, or you can study for your exam.
8. While Mr. Kagan was at work, the air conditioning stopped working at his house.
9. I have known him since we moved to this town.
10. Ashley and Brian wanted to shop at that store.
Complex sentences can have different kinds of dependent clauses. The ones we’ve talked about so far are called adverbial clauses because, like adverbs, they typically tell us more about a verb, adjective, or another adverb. For example, in the sentence, Things improved after Mr. Eliot arrived, the underlined dependent clause is telling us something about the time of the action.
In other complex sentences, dependent clauses can be used as noun phrases. Take a look at the following pair of sentences:
13a. That statement is silly.
13b. What Mark just said is silly.
In sentence 13a, that statement is a noun phrase. In sentence 13b, what Mark just said is a dependent clause which is functioning as a noun phrase of the main sentence. When a dependent clause is functioning as a noun phrase, it’s called a noun clause. Here are some more sentence pairs in which the second sentence of the pair has a dependent clause (underlined) acting as a noun phrase.
14a. I know the truth. simple sentence
14b. I know that you’re right. complex sentence
15a. It remains unknown. simple sentence
15b. Why they left town remains unknown. complex sentence
Notice that noun clauses look just like other dependent clauses: they begin with a subordinating conjunction and contain both a subject and a verb phrase. However, when a sentence has a noun clause, the rest of the sentence cannot always stand alone; it needs the noun clause to be complete. For example, in sentence 15b, remains unknown is not a complete sentence.
Test yourself 48.6
Underline the dependent clause in each of the complex sentences below. It will be either an adverbial clause or a noun clause.
Sample: Whatever you do is acceptable.
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. I’ll stay with Jeanette until Peter comes home.
2. That my candidate will win is obvious.
3. Although Mrs. Craft was tired, she insisted on making us dinner.
4. We were quite confident that we had made the right decision.
5. They want to find out why the waitress was so rude to them.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. He did not know which highway led to the Canadian border.
7. The assistant manager knew that she was not going to be promoted this time.
8. Wherever we travel we like to visit museums.
9. I can speak Italian better than you can speak French.
10. We were tired of waiting, so we left.
We’ve been telling you to look for the subordinating conjunction to help you find the dependent clause. But what about these next sentences (with the dependent clauses underlined)?
16a. I know that you’re right.
16b. I know you’re right.
17a. You believed that the defendant was innocent.
17b. You believed the defendant was innocent.
As you can see, we can delete the subordinating conjunction that in a noun clause when the dependent clause follows the main clause. However, if the dependent clause comes before the main clause, the subordinating conjunction that cannot be deleted:
18a. That her daughter is talented has been obvious for years.
18b. *Her daughter is talented has been obvious for years.
19a. That the defendant was innocent became clear during the trial.
19b. *The defendant was innocent became clear during the trial.
Quick tip 48.4
In a noun clause, the subordinating conjunction that can be deleted following a main clause. Example: I think (that) it's going to rain.
So when you don’t see a subordinating conjunction in a sentence, but the sentence has more than one subject and verb phrase, ask yourself if you can insert that somewhere. If so, then you’ll know you have a dependent clause.
Test yourself 48.7
Underline the dependent clauses in each of the sentences below. In some cases, the conjunction that will have been deleted.
Sample: They knew she would escape.
Getting started (answers on p. 232)
1. They don’t believe that her partner will keep his word.
2. Mrs. Webb was sure her pie would win the baking contest.
3. That Andy is the best in the class doesn’t surprise me.
4. We heard you were accepted to Georgetown Law School.
5. It is true that I am going to become a partner in this firm.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. This man does not think you are a good writer.
7. Jackie always thought that one day she would be a leading actress.
8. You knew that I would be throwing a surprise party for you.
9. The landlord assumed that all his tenants would be paying rent on time.
10. The little girl pretended she was dancing with Mickey Mouse.
Test yourself 48.8
Decide if each sentence is simple, compound, or complex. Keep in mind that sometimes the subordinating conjunction that may have been deleted.
Sample: She told me I wasn’t giving up yet. complex
Getting started (answers on p. 233)
1. My mother changed the subject, but it was too late.
2. He proposed to her when she graduated from college.
3. A man from the sawmill was overseeing the project.
4. I want a piece of apple pie.
5. I had been hoping you could come to the game.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. If you take the kids to the movies, I can get some rest.
7. The president said we should all conserve fuel.
8. You can do the food shopping first, or you can do your other errands.
9. Justin generally eats his soup with bread and butter.
10. I know the woman in the blue dress.
There’s another very common type of subordinating clause, called a relative clause. Here are some examples:
20. I’ll tell my husband, who will be home soon.
21. The person who knows her best is Richard.
22. Miss Livingston had her money in the bank that failed.
Since there’s quite a bit to say about relative clauses, we ’ve given them their own lesson, which is next.