Compound-Complext Sentence, Clasue, Dependent Clause, Independent Clause, Subordinating Conjunction, and Coordinating Conjunction

The Compound-Complex Sentence

The compound-complex sentence combines elements of compound and complex sentences. It is the most sophisticated type of sentence you can use. Understanding how to construct the compound-complex sentence will help you take your writing to a new level of complexity.

Understanding Clauses

A clause is comprised of at least one subject and more verbs. These are two types of clauses: the independent clause and the dependent clause.

Independent Clause

An independent clause makes a statement or asks a question than can act as a complete sentence.

Example: The dog barks.

Dependent Clause

A dependent clause cannot act as a complete sentence because it begins with a subordinating word, such as when, because, if, although, etc.

Example: When the dog barks.

All grammatically correct sentences have at least one independent clause, and therefore, they have at least one subject and one verb.

Identifying Compound and Complex Sentences

            The Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and , nor, but, or, yet, so) and comma or by a semicolon alone.

                        Example: Eddy doesn’t speak English, nor does he speak Japanese.

            The Complex Sentence

A complex sentence combines a dependent clause with an independent clause. When the dependent clause is placed before the independent clause, the two clauses are divided by a comma; otherwise, no punctuation is necessary.

Example: Because I wanted to saw Borobudur temple, I went to Magelang last year.

Constructing Compound-Complex Sentences

A compound-complex sentence is comprised of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

            Example: After I had finished my final test, I went to Magelang last year, but my money wasn’t enough.

Example Compound-Complex Sentence

Sentences

Explanation

1.      Odi forgot to do his assignment, so he did it when he remembered. 2.      Yesterday the rain was very hard, but Toni still played football in the yard until he felt tired. 3.      We feel confuse about compound-complex sentence, but we must understand if before we present it in the class.

Odi forgot to do his assignment = IDC So = Coordinating Conjunction he did it = IDC when = Subordinating Conjunction he Remembered: DC Yesterday the rain was very hard = IDC But = Coordinating Conjunction Toni still played football in the yard = Subordinating Conjunction until = Subordinating Conjunction he felt tired = DC We feel confuse about compound-complex sentence = IDC But = Coordinating Conjunction we must understand it = IDC before = Subordinating Conjunction we present it in the class = DC

 Note:

IDC = Independent Clause

DC = Dependent Clause