• 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 can stand alone as a sentence.

  EXAMPLE

  We learn about current events independent clause.

• • A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone because it begins with a conjunction like when.

  EXAMPLE

  when we read a newspaper dependent clause

• • You can use the conjunction to “hook” the dependent clause to an independent clause. The new sentence is complete, and it is called a complex sentence.

  EXAMPLE

  We learn about current events independent clause when we read a newspaper dependent clause.

Practice Together

Match each independent clause on the left to a dependent clause on the right. Add punctuation. Say the new complex sentence.

Try It!

Match each independent clause on the left to a dependent clause on the right. Write the complex sentence on a card. Say the new sentence.

News reporters cover world events wherever they happen.