IELTS Writing: How to Write Complex

Sentences
You need to include some complex sentence structures in your writing in
order to score above a band 6.  This page will teach you about:
1) Simple sentences
2) Compound sentences
3) Complex sentences

Simple Sentences
A simple sentence has the most basic parts of a sentence: a subject, a verb,
and a completed thought.
Examples of simple sentences:
1) John is hungry.
John = subject
is = verb
2) The bus is late.
bus = subject
is = verb
3) I called John.
I = subject
called = verb
These sentences are all complete thoughts.  They contain a complete 'chunk'
of information.

Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is two simple sentences that are combined.  Usually, a
compound sentence uses one of the following coordinating conjunctions:

 For
  And
 Nor
 But
 Or
 Yet
 So

Hint: You can remember these coordinating conjunctions because the first
letter of each word spells FANBOYS.
Examples of compound sentences:
1) John is hungry, but he does not want to cook food.
2) The bus is late, and there is too much traffic.
3) I called John, and I ate dinner
Compound sentences are usually separated with a comma.  A compound
sentence is not a complex sentence because it is just two simple sentences
combined.

Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is an independent clause combined with one or
more dependent clauses.
Independent clause: an independent clause could be a complete sentence
by itself.  It has all the elements of a simple sentence (subject, verb, and
completed thought).
Dependent clause: a dependent clause begins with a subordinating
conjunction and is not a complete sentence by itself.  A dependent clause is
added to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.  
Dependent clause examples:
1) because he doesn't want to cook food.
2) if there is too much traffic
3) before I ate dinner
 
The most common subordinating conjunctions:

 after
  although
 as
 because
 before
 even though
 if
 since
 though
 unless
 until
 when
 whenever
 whereas
 wherever
 while

A complex sentence combines an independent clause with one or more

dependent clauses.
Complex sentence examples:
1) John is hungry because he doesn't want to cook food.
2) The bus is late if there is too much traffic.
3) I called John before I ate dinner.
You can also reverse the order of the independent and dependent clause:
1) Because he doesn't want to cook food, John is hungry.
2) If there is too much traffic, the bus is late.
3) Before I ate dinner, I called John.
*note* If the dependent clause is before the independent clause, you need to
use a comma.  Do not use a comma if the dependent clause is after the
independent clause.
 
Complex sentences allow you to give more exact and clear information.
They are essential to learn in order to become a better writer and
achieve a high band score in IELTS writing.
 
More examples of complex sentences.
Complex sentence examples (1 independent and 1 dependent clause)
1) Gary cleaned his room while his parents watched TV.
independent clause: Gary cleaned his room
dependent clause: while his parents watched TV
2) Even though I normally like math, algebra is really boring.
independent clause: algebra is really boring
dependent clause: even though I normally like math
3) She did her homework after coming home from school.
independent clause: she did her homework
dependent clause: after coming home from school
 
Complex sentence examples (1 independent and 2 dependent clauses)  In
these examples, the formula is dependent clause + comma + independent
clause + dependent clause.  
1) While space exploraton is important, I believe that we should focus on
world hunger because it is a problem we can fix.  
independent clause: I believe that we should focus on world hunger.
dependent clause 1: while space exploration is important
dependent clause 2: because it is a problem we can fix
2) Whenever you're angry, you should take a deep breath even though
you don't want to.
independent clause: you should take a deep breath.
dependent clause 1: whenever you're angry
dependent clause 2: even though you don't want to
3) Although I like pizza, I only eat pizza after going to the gym.
independent clause: I only eat pizza
dependent clause 1: although I like pizza
dependent clause 2: after going to the gym