What Is a Complex Sentence?

(with Examples)
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent
clause.

An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence.

Examples of Complex Sentences

Below are examples of complex sentences. In each example, the independent
clause is shaded. The dependent clause is unshaded.
 Stay in the bath until the phone rings.
 The car swerved to miss Mrs Jackson, who had slipped off the pavement.
 Both the cockroach and the bird would get along very well without us,
although the cockroach would miss us most. (Joseph Wood Krutch, 1893-
1970)
 Leave while you can.
 When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is
possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is
impossible, he is very probably wrong. (Arthur C. Clarke)
(This is two complex sentences.)

The Four Types of Sentence Structure

A complex sentence is one of four main sentence structures, all of which are
shown below. In these examples, the independent clauses are shaded.

A Complex Sentence. A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least

one dependent clause. For example:
  The human brain never stops working until you stand up to speak in
public.
 I was still exhausted even after a very long rest.
A Compound Sentence. A compound sentence has at least two independent
clauses. For example:
 I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.
(Jane Wagner)
 I am always punctual, but this morning I overslept and my alarm did not
go off.
A Simple Sentence. A simple sentence has just one independent clause. For
example:
 Curiosity killed the cat.
 I am happy.
A Compound-Complex Sentence. A compound-complex sentence has at least
two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. For example:
 I stopped believing in Santa Claus when he asked for my autograph in a
department store, but I still want to believe in him.
 I have never ever been to America, however I would like to go, but I need
to create more sources of income so that I can save up more money for
my dream holiday.

Complex Sentence Examples

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complex sentences ARE fascinating components of the English language. when used
properly, they Can add depth to our writing. complex sentences contain an independent
clause and at least one dependent clause.

An independent clause has the ability to stand alone as a sentence. It always makes a
complete thought. A dependent clause cannot stand alone, even though it has a subject and a
verb.

complex sentences ARE Friends and neighbors to compound sentences. There's only one
difference. compound sentences contain two independent clauses - that's all there is to it.
Let's break down a couple complex sentence examples into its parts.

independent and dependent clauses

Let's start with an independent clause, one that Can stand alone:
  katie sipped on her cappuccino.
this is an independent clause because it's a complete sentence containing a subject and
a verb and fully expressing an idea.

NOW let's see a dependent clause, one that does not fully express an idea:

 while katie sipped on her cappuccino

although this sentence contains a subject (katie) and a verb (sipped), it's not a
complete thought - we still need More information. therefore, it's not a complete
sentence.
 Complex: While Kate sipped on her cappuccino she was reading the newspaper
headings, since she needed to catch the bus, otherwise she would be late again for
work.

when an independent and a dependent clause join together to form a complex sentence, they
Can go in either order.

here's an example where the independent clause comes first:

 I was snippy with him because I was running late for work.

here's an example where the dependent clause comes first:

 because I was running late for work, I was snippy with him.

To connect independent and dependent clauses, you need subordinating conjunctions like
"after," "while," or "since." If the dependent clause comes first, you will generally need to
separate the clauses with a comma.

common complex sentence examples

Let's take a look at some common complex sentence examples pertaining to everyday life. In
each example, the independent clause is underlined.

 because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.

 although he was wealthy, he was still unhappy.
 she returned the computer after she noticed it was damaged.
 whenever prices goes up, customers buy less products.
 because I had to catch the train, and as we were short on time, I forgot to pack my
toothbrush for our vacation.
 As she was Bright and ambitious, she became a manager in no time.
 wherever you go, you Can always find beauty.
 evergreen trees ARE a symbol of fertility because they do not die in the winter.
 although it was very Long, the movie was still enjoyable.
 you should take your car in for a Service because it's starting to make weird noises.
 the actor was happy he got a part in a movie even though the part was small.
 after the tornado hit, there was very little left standing.
 the museum was very interesting, as I expected.
 NOW that he's rich and famous, people make allowances for his idiosyncrasies.
  even though he's thoroughly trained, he still makes a Lot of mistakes.
 since winter is coming, I think I'll knit a warm sweater, because I'm always cold.
 when she was younger, she believed in fairy tales.
 I have to save this coupon in case I come Back to the store tomorrow.
 Let's go Back to chez nous because it's where we had our first date.
 although my Friends begged me, I chose not to go to the reunion.
 As genes change over time, evolution progresses.
 I really didn't like the movie even though the acting was good.
 when he got a creampie smashed in his face, everyone laughed.
 after being apart for years, he still had feelings for her.

complex sentences from literature

here ARE some well-crafted complex sentences from literature. the independent clauses ARE
underlined.

 If a Man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a
different drummer. - Walden, Henry David Thoreau
 the scarecrow and the tin woodman stood up in a corner and kept quiet all night,
although of course they could not sleep. - the wonderful wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum
 because he was so small, Stuart was often hard to find around the house. - Stuart little,
E.B. white

 many years later, as he faced the firing squad, colonel Aurelian Buendia was to
remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover Ice. - one
hundred years of solitude, Gabriel garcia Marquez
 As grainier drove along in the wagon behind a wide, slow, sand-colored mare, clusters
of Orange butterflies exploded off the blackish purple piles of Bear sign and winked
and fluttered magically like leaves without trees. - train dreams, Denis Johnson

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects an independent clause to a dependent clause.

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

In English, there are a lot of subordinating conjunctions. Let's take a look at the most
common ones, along with a few examples from some classic songs:

 After - "Your heart will break like mine, and you'll want only me after you've gone"
(Ella Fitzgerald)
 Although - "Although I've been here before, he's just too hard to ignore" (Amy
Winehouse)
 As - "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and
realize there's nothing left" (Coolio)
 As long as - "I don't care who you are, where you're from or what you did as long as
you love me" (Backstreet Boys)
 Because - "I'm everything I am because you loved me" (Celine Dion)
 Before - "Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just touch my cheek before you
leave me, baby" (Juice Newton)
 Even if - "Even if the sky is falling down, you'll be my only" (Jay Sean)
  If - "If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me" (Chicago)
 Once - "Once in a blue moon, something good comes along." (Van Morrison)
 Now that - "Baby, now that I've found you, I won't let you go" (Tony Macaulay/John
MacLeod)
 Since - "I guess I'll never be the same since I fell for you" (B.B. King)
 Though - "Walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown"
(Rodgers and Hammerstein)
 Unless - "We're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy" (Seal)
 Until - "I'll keep on dreaming until my dreams come true." (Charlie Louvin)
 When - "When I see you smile, I can face the world" (Bad English)
 Where - "There's a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I know where I've
been" (Scott Wittman)
 While - "I look at the world, and I notice it's turning while my guitar gently weeps"
(The Beatles)

You'll notice that when a dependent clause precedes an independent clause, there's a comma
between the two, indicating the beginning of the independent clause. However, when the
independent clause comes first, there's usually no need to separate the two clauses with a
comma.

Using Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are placed directly after the noun or pronoun they modify. For example:

 The driver who ran the stop sign was careless.

 The children, whom we love dearly, need better educations.
 Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. (Erma Bombeck)
 I have a friend whose cat is annoying.
 The book, which is now out of print, has all the information you need.
 This is the book that everyone is talking about.