Compound complex sentences have two independent clauses and one dependent clause. That’s the simple definition.
How exactly does this work? You’ll find all that information in this article.
Additionally, you’ll find information on the top 20 compound-complex sentences and how to use them. We got you!
What is a Compound-Complex Sentence?
As the name suggests, compound-complex sentences are the most complicated. A compound-complex sentence always consists of two independent clauses and one dependent clause. To put it simply, an independent clause may stand alone as a sentence, whereas a dependent clause cannot.
Compound-complex sentences, which contain more elements than simple ones, allow us to communicate longer, more complicated concepts. They are useful as educational aids when describing complex topics or detailed sequences of events.
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How to Write Compound-Complex Sentences
Now that you understand the components of compound-complex sentences, it’s time to start putting them together. It’s as simple as making two statements and one more fact, then combining them using conjunctions. This is how to write compound-complex sentences.
Step 1: Independent clause
The initial independent clause of your compound-complex sentence should have a strong main idea because it will always be one of the phrase’s essential themes, no matter what else you add to it. Suppose I want to write a statement on a cat. Here’s how my independent clause may appear:
The dog jumped onto the couch.
We can determine that this is a good independent clause for our complex-compound sentence because it is a full sentence in and of itself.
We now need a second independent clause that is related to the first. The second independent clause should either continue describing the event or provide information about equal value to the first independent clause. Typically, this means that the two different clauses will have the same subject or share another word in common, but this is not always the case.
The dog sat down on top of the remote control.
This second complete sentence builds on the previous one’s action and is equally important. We can now go on to the dependent clause.
Step 3: Dependent clause
Our dependent clause will complement the two independent clauses we’ve just written. It cannot stand alone as a full sentence but can provide further background or define a specific action. This is a dependent clause.
just when I was reaching for the remote control
This is clearly only a part of a sentence. It will make a lot more sense if we put it properly and utilize the proper conjunctions.
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Step 4: Put it together with conjunctions
Let’s gather all of our clauses and decide on an order.
The dog jumped onto the couch.
The dog sat down on top of the remote control
just when I was reaching for the remote control
We can easily put this one together:
The dog jumped onto the couch and (the dog) sat down on top of the remote control just when I was reaching for it.
If we remove the second the dog and replace it with the second remote control, the statement appears repetitive, but it stays grammatically correct.
20 Examples Of Compound-Complex Sentences
Compound-complex sentences are surprisingly common. You probably see them a lot in books that you read for school, and even in books that you read for fun. Here are some examples to help you understand what makes a sentence a compound-complex sentence.
Example 1
Catherine doesn’t like cartoons because they are loud, so she doesn’t watch them.
This sentence includes one dependent clause and two independent clauses. Because it is dependent, the phrase “because they are loud” cannot stand alone as a full sentence. The independent clauses “Catherine doesn’t like cartoons” and “she doesn’t watch them,” as you might expect, can stand alone as full sentences.
Example 2
The dog started barking so the rabbit ran away and I couldn’t keep up, so I stopped.
Even if there are any extra provisions at this time, they all follow the same standards. The dependent clause cannot stand alone, whereas the independent clauses are complete sentences.
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3. Although Jane was fatigued, she managed to finish the race, but her brother, who was in better shape, fell behind in the last mile.
4. Although she had no formal training, she created a masterpiece painting that stunned art enthusiasts and critics worldwide.
5. When the train arrived at the station, the crowd rushed to board it, and the conductors struggled to maintain order.
6. Since he was young, he had dreamed of owning a sports car, but now that he had the means, he was hesitant to purchase it.
7. Whenever he felt overwhelmed, he retreated to his office, where he would turn off the lights and take a few deep breaths.
8. The CEO delivered her speech, which was well-received by the audience, and the public relations team was lauded for their efforts.
9. The fire alarm rang loudly, and students and teachers scrambled to evacuate the building, but several remained calm and directed others toward the emergency exits.
10. When the thunderstorm hit, the electricity went out, the roads flooded, and several trees fell, causing traffic jams and blocking streets.
11. Since the team was falling behind, the coach substituted the starters with the bench players, and they managed to score the winning goal.
12. Although she had taken several breaks, she still missed the deadline, and she could sense that her boss was disappointed in her.
13. When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, and my mom is proud of me.
14. Shola cried when her cat got sick, but he soon got better.
15. I will get to watch television, but first, I have to clean up the dishes after we finish eating.
16. We won the game, but my uniform was muddy because it rained the entire time.
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17. After our trip to the beach, school started back, and I was excited to see my friends.
18. The sun is shining through the clouds, so I think that we can go swimming
19. Simon and Grace go to the Renaissance fair, but they don’t dress up, so a jester teases them relentlessly: they’re not going back tomorrow.
20. Thalia loves skateboarding at the skatepark, but she forgot her knee pads this morning, so she’s pretty grumpy.
Tips to Master Compound Complex Sentences
Knowing when and how to use commas properly is important when using compound-complex clauses. Commas are used to separate clauses and ensure that readers can quickly understand the sentence’s grammar. The placement of commas in a sentence can also change its meaning. Consider this, for example:
“I would like to eat, Grandma!”
Consider the same sentence with the comma positioned incorrectly:
“I would like to eat Grandma!”
While the second sentence has cannibalistic implications, the first sentence indicates that the speaker plans to eat with their grandmother. As a result, while creating compound, complex sentences, careful comma placement is necessary.
Using the proper conjunctions to unite clauses is another aspect of generating compound-complex sentences. Constraints like “and,” “but,” “or,” and “yet” are regularly used to connect independent clauses. As an example:
“The cat meowed loudly, but the dog continued to sleep.”
“Although it was raining, the children still went outside to play.”
“Tim couldn’t find his keys, so he had to take the bus.”
The usage of conjunctions determines the relationship between the sentences. The conjunction “but” in the first example indicates contrast between the two statements. The word “although” in the second example implies a conflict between the boy’s wish to play outside in the rain and the fact that it is raining. In the third situation, “so” implies a causal relationship between the two clauses.
- Keep it concise. Too many words in a sentence may make it tough to read and understand.
- Use punctuation correctly. Make sure the independent and dependent clauses are properly split with commas and conjunctions.
- Avoid ambiguous situations. Ensure that your sentence’s meaning is obvious and recognizable to the reader.
- Vary sentence structure. Mix up the length and complexity of your sentences to add variety to your writing.
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Conclusion
Compound complex sentences are an essential component of appropriate grammar and effective communication. They let authors convey complex ideas by combining multiple clauses into a single sentence. You may master this strategy and improve the clarity, interest, and engagement of your writing by utilizing commas and conjunctions correctly, avoiding ambiguity, and keeping your sentences brief.
References
- English sentences –compound-complex sentence examples
- Soft schools – compound-complex sentence examples
