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Lesson Five
Compound-Complex Sentences
A
compound-complex sentence is made from two independent clauses
and one or more dependent clauses.
Some examples:
1.
Although I like to go camping, I haven't had
the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with.
-
independent
clause: "I haven't had the
time to go lately"
-
independent clause: "I haven't
found anyone to go with"
-
dependent
clause: "Although I like to go camping... "
* * * * * * * * * *
2. 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
Compound-complex sentences are very
common in English, but one mistake that students often make is
to try to write them without having mastered the simple
sentences,
compound sentences, and complex
sentences first.
If this is a confusing lesson, return
to it later after completing the next three lessons (Lessons
Six, Seven, and Eight). |
Here are some examples of complex sentences:
If Barack
Obama is re-elected this November, he'll serve another four years, but it won't be an easy contest to win.
independent cause: he'll serve another four years
independent cause: it
won't be an easy contest to win.
Dependent clause: If
Barack Obama is re-elected this November, |
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Even though he
prefers to eat with a fork, he chooses to use chopsticks in Chinese
restaurants; however, they aren't easy to use.
independent clause: he chooses to use chopsticks in Chinese
restaurants
independent clause: they aren't easy to use.
dependent clause: Even though he
prefers to eat with a fork
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I
usually use a pick whenever
I play the guitar, or I just use
my fingers.
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In the next lesson, we'll learn about noun clauses.
Next: Lesson Six
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