Orange Level

Lesson Four

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made from an independent clause and a dependent clause joined together.

Some examples:

After I came home, I made dinner.

(dependent clause: "After I came home")

(independent clause: I made dinner)

We visited the museum before it closed.

(dependent clause: before it closed.)

(independent clause: We visited the museum)

Complex sentences are often formed by putting these words at the beginning of the dependent clause: as, as if, before, after, because, though, even though, while, when, whenever, if, during, as soon as, as long as, since, until, unless, where, and wherever. These words are called subordinating conjunctions.

Here are some examples of complex sentences:

Because the bridge wasn’t properly maintained by the government, it fell down. independent clause: it fell down dependent clause: because the bridge wasn’t properly maintained by the government
Although he ate a really big dinner, now he wants to eat cake for dessert.
Whenever they eat at this restaurant, they order a hamburger and fries.
He’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight if he keeps exercising.
Because the world is getting warmer, polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct.

In the next lesson, we’ll learn about compound-complex sentences.

Next: Lesson Five

compound-complex sentences