In English, there are four different kinds of sentences. In Units 5 and 6, you learned about simple and compound sentences. In this unit, you will learn the third type: complex sentences.
First, look at the clauses below. How can you finish these sentences?
- When I get together with my friends
- Although my job is difficult
- Because I didn't have any money
On their own, these ideas are incomplete and need more information to make sense. These are called dependent clauses.
What is a Dependent Clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb but is not a complete idea.
Dependent clauses need an independent clause in order to be complete.
Here are some common words that start a dependent clause:
- when
- while
- before
- as soon as
- after
- until
- since
- because
- although
- if
What is a Complex Sentence?
Complex sentences are made of one independent clause (main clause) and one or more dependent clause.
- When I get together with my friends, we have a lot of fun.
- Although my job is difficult, I enjoy it very much.
- Because I didn't have any money, I could not buy a new car.
In Grammar 7-3, you studied / will study Time Clauses and complex sentences to talk about the future. However, complex sentences can express more than just time:
- When I get together with my friends, we have a lot of fun.
- Time
- Although my job is difficult, I enjoy it very much.
- Contrast
- Because I didn't have any money, I could not buy a new car.
- Reason
Sentence Order
In a complex sentence, we can choose the order of the clauses. If we start a sentence with an independent clause and then a dependent clause, we do not need to use a comma. If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, we must put a comma after the dependent clause.
- I will need to find a job after I graduate.
- After I graduate, I will need to find a job.
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.