1 TRY OUT LANGUAGE
2 LEARN GRAMMAR
3 APPLY ON YOUR OWN
Use Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is a sentence with two kinds of clauses—an independent clause and a dependent clause.
• A clause has a subject and a verb. An independent clause has a subject and a verb, and it can stand alone as a sentence.
EXAMPLE We jog every day. independent clause • A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone because it isn’t a complete thought and begins with a conjunction like unless.
EXAMPLE unless it rains dependent clause • You can use the conjunction to connect the dependent clause to an independent clause. The new sentence is complete, and it is called a complex sentence.
EXAMPLE We jog every day independent clause unless it rains. dependent clause
| Some Conjunctions to Connect Clauses | |
|---|---|
| after | since |
| although | unless |
| as | when |
| because | whenever |
| before | wherever |
| if | while |
Practice Together
Match each independent clause on the left to a dependent clause on the right. Say the new complex sentence.
| 1. I feel the happiest | although I can’t win them all |
| 2. I enter a lot of races | because it’s a tradition |
| 3. I often feel nervous | after the race is over |
| 4. We celebrate | when I compete in a race |
| 5. We have the Turkey Trot race every year | before a race starts |
Try It!
Match each independent clause on the left to a dependent clause. Write the dependent clause on a card. Say the new complex sentence.
| 6. We do warm-up exercises | because he was the fastest |
| 7. We do cool-down exercises | if it rains on the day of the race |
| 8. My friend Alex won the race | after we run a race |
| 9. I am proud of myself | before we run a race |
| 10. I don’t know what I’ll do | whenever I finish a long race |
We run every day because the race is next week.