1. Complex Sentences

2. How do you vary sentence structure?
You will want to use a variety of sentence structures in your writing. There are three types of sentences.
Simple Sentence
Compound Sentence
Complex Sentence

3. Independent and Dependent Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two kinds of clauses in English:
An independent Clause has a subject-verb pair and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence. It is another name for a simple sentence:
John walked down the dusty road.
Paris has excellent art museums.
We finished our homework.

4. Independent and Dependent Clauses
2. A dependent Clause it cannot be a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It can NOT stand alone as a sentence. It MUST be joined to an independent clause.
It begins with a subordinating word, such as since, after, when, while, as soon as, although, before, because, until, whenever, etc.
While we were watching the film
As soon as Ahmed arrived
After she finished her homework
Because it was cold and rainy

5. after as soon as before since until when whenever while
Time Subordinators
I will go straight to bed after I finish writing this paragraph.
She felt better as soon as she took the medicine.
Wait for a green light before you cross a street.
It has been a year since I left home.
We can't leave the room until everyone finishes the test.
Where were you when I called?
Whenever I don't sleep well, I feel sick the next day.
My neighbors were having a party while I was trying to sleep.
after
as soon as
before
since
until
when
whenever
while

6. Jack excels at sports because he trains hard.
Reason Subordinators
Jack excels at sports because he trains hard.
Since she works out daily, Jill is in great condition.
As they want to compete in a marathon, they run every day.
because
since As
Place Subordinators
I can never remember where I put my house keys.
A baby animal follows its mother wherever she goes.
where
wherever

7. 4. It's hard to do this in the winter 5. When I go to work
Activity 1: Decide if the following is independent or dependent clause:
3. The exercise wakes up my body and clears my mind
4. It's hard to do this in the winter
5. When I go to work
6. It is still dark
7. After I get home from work
8. It is dark again
9. I can always take a walk on weekends, even in the winter
10. When it is raining, of course
11. I never go out
12. On rainy days, as soon as the alarm clock rings
13. I turn over and go back to sleep

8. Subordinating Conjunction
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause.
John cannot focus on his study
because there is so much noise outside.
Independent Clause
Subordinating Conjunction
Dependent Clause

9. Subordinating Conjunction
Complex Sentences
She will go to college in the city
after she finds a job.
Independent Clause
Subordinating Conjunction
Dependent Clause

10. Subordinating Conjunction
Complex Sentences
When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma.
When I first moved to the city,
I was afraid to drive in the crowded narrow streets.
Subordinating Conjunction
Independent Clause

11. Activity 2: Identify the dependent clause in each COMPLEX sentence.
1. Because it was raining, the game was called off.
2. When I feel sick, I do not go to school.
3. Mark is not going since I never invited him.
4. If you want a pizza, you need to order it now.
5. The students worked on the test problems until the teacher told them to stop.
6. As soon as the teacher told them to stop writing they put down their pencils.
7. Since noise can change the heart rate and increase blood pressure, it is harmful to the body.

12. Activity 3: Join the following sentences to form complex sentences:
Jim ran all the way to school. Jim was late this morning.
We won’t be able to play. The crowd stops shouting.
The men always have to wait in a line. The line is long.
I think about my third grade teacher. I have a warm feeling inside.
The milk spoiled. It was two weeks old.
He was upset about his toy. It was broken.

13. 7. The play started. We were not allowed to talk.
8. Loud noise is especially harmful. It damages the ear drums.
9. He handed in his homework. He forgot to hand the teacher the last page.
10. The teacher returned the homework. She noticed the error.
11. They finished studying. Jack and Maria went to the movies.
12. The students were silent. The teacher handed out the test.

14. [because – after – as – when – since – once – whenever]
Activity 4: Write a dependent clause that turns the simple sentence into a complex sentence:
[because – after – as – when – since – once – whenever]
1. __________________________, you can go to the movies on Saturday.
2. We talked on the phone for hours______________
3. We had a hard time finding our way home_______ __________________________________________.
4. _____________________________, I asked my teacher to check it for mistakes.
5. ________________________________, we had to be home before midnight.
6. The police searched every house ______________
__________________________________________.

15. Write three complex sentences using time and reason subordinators