HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

& EDUCATION
BASIC WRITING
- COMPOUND-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 compound-
complex sentences
3. Subordinators
4. Relationship between clauses: time-location-
reason or cause-result or effect-condition-
contrast
5. Punctuation: period, comma
6. Writing genre: Narrative (Tell a story)
 Compound-Complex Sentence
Subordinating
Conjunction

Since we wanted to have fun,

Part that cannot stand alone

my boyfriend and I went to San Juan,

Coordinating Subject Predicate

Conjunction

and we danced all night.

Compound-Complex Sentence
Mike is popular

because

he is good looking,

but

he is not very happy.

Compound-Complex Sentences

 A compound-complex sentence is
made from two independent clauses
and one or more dependent clauses.
Compound-Complex Sentences
◦ We decided that the movie was too violent,
but our children, who like to watch scary
movies, thought that we were wrong.
 independent clause: "We decided that the movie
was too violent"
 independent clause: "(but) our children thought
that we were wrong"
 dependent clause: who like to watch scary
movies
OTHER EXAMPLES
Form your own Compound-Complex Sentence
 Independent clause: We brought home a brand
new kitten.
 Independent clause: We wanted to make her
feel a part of the family.
 Dependent clause: although she was
independent
We brought home a brand new
kitten, and we wanted to make
her feel a part of the family,
although she was independent.
Types of Sentences
It may be helpful to remember them in this way:

Type of Independent Subordinate

sentence Clauses Clauses
Simple One None

Compound Two or more None

Complex One One or more

Compound- Two or more One or more

Complex