HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

& EDUCATION
BASIC WRITING
- COMPLEX SENTENCES -

Instructor: Ms. Tran Thi Nhu Trang

trangttn@hcmute.edu.vn
 MAIN CONTENTS
1. Independent and dependent clauses
2. Structure, meaning, and usage of
complex sentences
3. Subordinators
4. Relationship between clauses: time-
location-reason or cause-result or
effect-condition-contrast
Complex Sentences
 A complex sentence is made up of an
independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses connected to it.
 A dependent clause cannot stand on its
own because it does not express a
complete thought.
Examples of Dependent Clauses
 Examples of dependent clauses include
the following:
◦ because Mary and Samantha arrived at the
bus station before noon
◦ while he waited at the train station
◦ after they left on the bus
Dependent Clauses
 Dependent clauses begin with
subordinating conjunctions.
◦ Examples of Subordinating
Conjunctions:
 After, although, as, because, before, how, if, once,
since, than, that, though, until, when, where,
whether, while, etc.
Complex Sentence Type One
 Although Mary hates Pater, she makes
friend with him to please her parents.

◦ How is the sentence constructed? Where is

the dependent clause located? How is it
attached to the independent clause?
Complex Sentence Type Two
 Pilar has earned an A in language arts
since she began working with a tutor.

◦ How is the sentence constructed? Where is

the dependent clause located? How is it
attached to the independent clause?
Note!

 Complex sentences are often more

effective than compound sentences
because a complex sentence indicates
clearer and more specific
relationships between the main parts of
the sentence.
 Periodic sentence
 The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a
complex sentence beginning with a dependent
clause and ending with an independent
clause, as in "While he waited at the train station, Joe
realized that the train was late."

→ can be especially effective because the

completed thought occurs at the end of it → the
first part of the sentence can build up to the
meaning that comes at the end..