Compound-Complex Sentences: The Super Sentences
What are compound-complex sentences?
Just like their name suggests, compound-complex sentences are a combination of compound and complex sentences. They’re like the superheroes of the sentence world – powerful and able to do a lot!
Building Blocks of a Compound-Complex Sentence
- At least two independent clauses: Each can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- At least one dependent clause: This adds extra information but cannot stand alone.
How to Create Compound-Complex Sentences
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Use Coordinating Conjunctions: These words join independent clauses together.
- Examples: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)
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Use Subordinating Conjunctions: These words introduce dependent clauses.
- Examples: because, although, when, after, before, if, while, since, unless
Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences:
- Although it was raining (dependent clause), we went to the park (independent clause), and we had a picnic (independent clause).
- The dog barked (independent clause) because he saw a squirrel (dependent clause), but the squirrel quickly ran away (independent clause).
Let’s Practice!
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Identify the Clauses: In the following sentences, underline the independent clauses once and the dependent clauses twice:
- When the sun came out, we went for a swim, and we built sandcastles.
- He didn’t study for the test, so he didn’t do well, even though he usually gets good grades.
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Combine Sentences:
- Simple sentences:
- She studied hard. She passed the exam. She was happy.
- Combined (compound-complex): She studied hard, so she passed the exam and was happy.
- Simple sentences:
- The concert started. The crowd cheered. The band played their first song.
- Combined (compound-complex): When the concert started, the crowd cheered, and the band played their first song.
- Simple sentences:
Challenge!
Write a short story about your favorite holiday. Use at least two compound-complex sentences in your story!
