Complex Sentence Examples &

Definition
What Is a Complex Sentence?
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one
independent and at least one dependent clause (sometimes
called a subordinate clause). An independent clause is a
phrase that would make sense if it were a sentence on its
own, whereas a dependent clause will not form a sentence
on its own. When these two types of clauses appear in a
sentence, we create a complex sentence.

Consider this example:

 I like to eat the candy before I watch a movie.
“I like to eat the candy” is an independent clause as it would
make a complete sentence on its own.
“Before I watch a movie” is a dependent clause, as it doesn’t
make a complete sentence on its own. It is ‘dependent’ on
the first clause for the phrase to make sense.

Complex Sentence Definition

The definition of a complex sentence is a sentence that
contains one independent clause and at least one dependent
clause.

Examples of Complex Sentences

In the examples of complex sentences below, the dependent
clause comes first. Notice that the dependent clause begins
with a subordinating conjunction (words like since, because,
while) and that the clauses are separated by a comma:
 Because he was late again, he would be docked a day’s
pay.
 While I am a passionate basketball fan, I prefer football.
 Although she was considered smart, she failed all her
exams.
 Whenever it rains, I like to wear my blue coat.
In the complex sentence examples shown below, the
independent clause comes first. Notice that in most
examples there is no separation of the clauses by a comma,
which is the general rule in complex sentences starting with
an independent clause. However, the last example has a
comma as it is an example of an extreme contrast. This
extreme contrast refers to the clauses expressing ideas that
are almost opposite in meaning or that must be heavily
emphasized.
 Having a party is a bad idea because the neighbors will
complain.
 I am extremely happy since I retired.
 The dog jumped on his lap while he was eating.
 Annie was still crying, although she had been happy about
the news.

Independent and Dependent Clauses

We have mentioned several times that a complex sentence
contains an independent clause and at least one dependent
clause. But what are clauses in a sentence? And why are
they important in grammar?
Let’s look back at the earlier example of a complex
sentence:
 I like to eat candy before I watch a movie.
As we stated earlier, “I like to eat candy” is an independent
clause. It makes sense as a standalone sentence. “Before I
watch a movie” does not make sense on its own. However,
let’s tweak the sentence a bit:
 I like to eat candy, but I don’t like to eat popcorn.
The sentence now contains two independent clauses, as “I
like to eat candy” and “I don’t like to eat popcorn” could
both form complete sentences. The example has now
 become a compound sentence, i.e. one that contains two
independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
(but).
However, there is an important distinction to be made when
a subordinating conjunction is added to a clause. These
words – such as since, whenever, although, because – act to
make a clause a dependent clause, even if it looks like an
independent clause.
 I like to eat candy (independent clause – makes sense on
its own).
 Because I like to eat candy (dependent clause – does not
make sense on its own without more information).

Common Complex Sentence

Examples
As we have seen with the previous examples, the structure
for a complex sentence essentially looks like this:
 Dependent Clause + Independent Clause (comma splits the
clause)
 Independent Clause + Dependent Clause (comma usually
does not split the clause)
So, using that structure we can easily form examples of
complex sentences:
 Because she was scoring many baskets, Elesa was
considered the best player on the team.
 Elesa was considered the best player on the team because
she was scoring many baskets.
 Since Hannah got here, she’s been nothing but trouble.
 Hannah has been nothing but trouble since she got here.
You should also be aware that a complex sentence can
contain more than one dependent clause. Here are some
examples of those types of complex sentences:
 Because I was often late, and since I was always
forgetting things, I was regarded as a scatterbrain by my
friends.
 Although the war ended, and as people tend to have short
memories, the city’s people were still divided over its
impact.

Complex Sentences from Literature

Below are some quotes from that classic books that can be
considered complex sentences:
 “Because he was so small, Stuart was often hard to find
around the hou”
E.B White – Stuart Little
 “I’ve never any pity for conceited people, because I think
they carry their comfort about with them.”
George Eliot – The Mill on the Floss
 “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be
good.”
John Steinbeck — East of Eden

The 4 Types of Sentence Structure

A complex sentence is, of course, just one type of sentence
we can use in writing. The four types of sentence are
discussed below:
1. Complex Sentence
As we have mentioned, a complex sentence is one with an
independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Example:
 Whenever he was lonely, Lance called his mother.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is one with two independent clauses
joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, but, and, nor, or,
yet, so).
Example:
 I was born in the United States, yet I consider myself
Canadian.
3. A Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is one with only one independent clause
and no dependent clauses.
Example:
 David drives carefully to work in the morning.
4. A Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence is one with at least two
independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
 Jim doesn’t drink beer because he has a gluten allergy, so
he tends to drink wine most weekends.

Subordinating Conjunctions
There are dozens of subordinating conjunctions in English,
and their usage is intrinsically linked to dependent
(subordinate) clauses.
Common examples of subordinating conjunctions include:
After, before, even though, although, as much as, when,
whenever, because, as long as, while, since. These words
and phrases act as modifiers to a sentence, sometimes
changing the phrase from an independent clause to a
dependent clause.
There are two main ways to think about subordinating
clauses:
 A word or phrase that introduces a dependent clause.
 A word or phrase that links an independent and dependent
clause.

Using Subordinate Clauses in

Complex Sentences
As we mentioned earlier, a subordinate clause is another
way of terming a dependent clause. Both words, subordinate
and dependent, offer clues to help us better understand the
function of these clauses in writing. Dependent
means contingent on or determined by, whereas
subordinate means lower in rank or position. That tells us
that – grammatically speaking – subordinate/dependent
clauses are not equal to the independent clause in a
sentence.
The independent clause and subordinate clause are not
equal because the latter cannot form a sentence on its own.
The subordinate clause is, as such, dependent on the
independent clause to provide the complete meaning.
You cannot create a complex sentence without using a
subordinate clause in it. Other types of sentences –
compound sentences, simple sentences – can exist without
subordinate clauses. When you think about it, the
subordinate clause is what makes the sentence ‘complex’.
The subordinate clause requires the help of the independent
clause for it to make sense. It reaches back or forward
across the sentence to contextualize itself, making the
sentence more ‘complex’ in the process.