The Art of Writing Complex Sentences

What is a complex sentence?

A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Q: Who remembers what two things a clause always has? A: Subject and Verb Q: Who remembers what the difference is between a dependent and an independent clause? A: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. An independent clause can.

Some examples:
Dependent clauses are in [brackets]. Independent clauses are in italics.
[After he graduates], Conrad wants to tour Mexico. I recommend you buy the vehicle [that has the least impact on the

environment].
Youll never understand the experience of being homeless [unless you live

through it].

Q: If all clauses have subjects and verbs, what makes a clause dependent? A: Dependent clauses begin with dependent words like subordinating conjunctions (full list pg. 234) and relative pronouns (full list pg. 239).

For example: Although people are marrying later in life. Before he quit his job. Who work out regularly. That I wrote.

When dependent clauses stand alone, they are sentence fragments.

To be complete sentences, they need to be combined with an independent clause

For example: [Although people are marrying later in life], the divorce rate hasnt increased. Greg made sure to save several thousand dollars [before he quit his job]. Athletes [who work out regularly] will stay in shape. The letter [that I wrote] was not published.

Here are the sample complex sentences again with the dependent words underlined. Which are subordinating conjunctions and which are relative pronouns?
[After

he graduates], Conrad wants to tour Mexico.

I recommend you buy the vehicle [that has the least impact

on the environment].
Youll never understand the experience of being homeless [unless

you live through it].

How to Combine Sentences Using Subordinating Conjunctions

Decide which sentence is less important. Choose an appropriate subordinating conjunction to express the way the ideas in the two sentences are connected. Combine the sentences by putting the subordinating conjunction before the less important part of the new sentence and then deleting or changing any other words as necessary. Use a comma after the subordinate clause when it begins the combined sentence. In general, dont use a comma before the subordinate clause when it ends the sentence.

Practice Using Subordinate Conjunctions

Combine the following pairs of sentences using a subordinating conjunction. Add or delete words as necessary. (Turn to pg. 234 for the full list.)

1. I aced my art history exam. I studied for three hours last night.

I aced by art history exam because I studied for three hours.

1. I kept the music low. My roommate left.

I kept the music low until my roommate left.

1. The friends were in the restaurant. They gossiped about their

coworkers.

While the friends were in the restaurant, they gossiped about their coworkers.

How to Combine Sentences Using Relative Pronouns

Decide which sentence is less important. Choose an appropriate relative pronoun to connect the

information in the less important sentence to that in the other sentence. and the sentence still includes all necessary information. necessary part of the sentence.

Use commas when the relative clause can be deleted

Dont use commas when the relative clause is a

Practice Using Relative Pronouns

Combine the following pairs of sentences using a relative pronoun. Add or delete words as necessary. (Turn to pg. 239 for the full list.)

1. Dorothea baked the cupcakes. They were moist and delicious.

Dorothea baked the cupcakes, which were moist and delicious.

1. I have a picture of my mother wearing jeans. The jeans have frayed hems

and many holes. I have a picture of my mother wearing jeans that have frayed hems and many holes.
1. In the 1950s, jeans became popular with teenagers. The teenagers

thought that they were were cool. In the 1950s, jeans became popular with teenagers, who thought that they were cool.

Who vs. That & Which

Rule 1. Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or things. Examples:
Anya is the one who rescued the bird. Lokua is on the team that won first place. She belongs to an organization that specializes in saving

endangered species.

That vs. Which

Rule 2. That introduces essential clauses. Which introduces nonessential clauses.
Examples:
I do not trust products that claim "all natural ingredients" because

this phrase can mean almost anything.

We would not know which products were being discussed without the that clause.
The product claiming "all natural ingredients," which appeared in

the Sunday newspaper, is on sale.

The product is already identified. Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause.

A Note about Commas

The official rule: Essential clauses do not have commas surrounding them while nonessential clauses are surrounded by commas. Easier way to remember?
1. Never put a comma before dependent clauses starting with

that.
2. Always put a comma before dependent clauses starting with

which.

Translation:
Dont use commas before or after a dependent clause that is necessary to identify what it refers to, as in the following example:

The letter to the editor that Anita wrote was published in the local newspaper. In contrast, use commas when the dependent clause gives information that is not essential to the sentence: The letter, which is on the topic of school funding, is still in my backpack. The letter is still in my backpack, which is stuffed with books, binders, and notebooks.

Any Questions?