EXERCISE 2. COMBINE EACH PAIR OF SENTENCES TO FORM A GOOD COMPOUND SEN...
5. The rain poured down. The sun was shining.
Complex Sentences
We worked with complex sentences in Part Two (page 140) and saw how they can add
interest and variety to writing. Now we look more closely at what makes a complex sen-
tence. Like a compound sentence, a complex sentence has two or more clauses, but at least
one of the clauses cannot stand by itself as a sentence. Note the following example:
COMPLEX SENTENCE
: If Paula calls, give her my message.
FIRST CLAUSE
: If Paula calls, (subordinate clause)
SECOND CLAUSE
: give her my message. (independent clause)
The first clause cannot function alone as a sentence. Although it has both a subject and
a verb, it needs something to complete its thought. It is a subordinate clause. The second
clause can stand by itself. It is an independent clause with the understood subject you.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses can be difficult. Sometimes we make the mistake of punctuating
them as if they were complete sentences. Then we end up with a sentence fragment, which
will be covered in the next section (pages 155–164).
Subordinate clauses begin with connectives, or “joining words,” called subordinating
conjunctions. Here’s a partial list:after before than until
although how though when
as if till while
In the following sentences, the conjunctions are capitalized, the subordinate clauses
are circled, and the independent clauses are underlined.
COMPLEX SENTENCE
: Juan went home WHEN the game ended.
COMPLEX SENTENCE