Type three: complex sentences
Complex sentences need to have one independent clause, or main clause, and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause is a group of words which has a subject and a verb but is NOT a complete idea and cannot exist alone, for example, “after I finish my rotation, because it was difficult, if the doctor wants to", etc. There are two main options for the structure of a complex sentence:
Option A
| Independent clause | dependent clause |
Option B
| Dependent clause | , | independent clause |
Note that the independent and dependent clauses can come in either order, but the punctuation is different. The general rule is that if the sentence begins with the dependent clause, the dependent clause should be followed by a comma.
- The nurse is afraid of making a mistake because his patients could be injured or killed.
- Because his patients could be injured or killed, the nurse is afraid of making a mistake.
- Some young people are inappropriately diagnosed with ADHD when doctors don't do enough research.
- When doctors don't do enough research, some young people are inappropriately diagnosed with ADHD.
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