What are complex

sentences?

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

The dominoes toppled when I touched them.

Because I was alone, no-one knew who had touched them.

The subordinate clauses add meaning to the main clause.

main subordinate

main

subordinate

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

Where are the clauses in these complex sentences? What role does each subordinate clause have?

Before the sun rises, pack your gear quietly.

The blue shirt, which is my favourite, was torn to shreds.

You’ll be in big trouble when Dad gets home.

Bananas are expensive now because storms destroyedthe crops.

mainadverbial

main mainadjectival

main adverbial

main adverbial

Dad wanted to munch popcorn while

the movie was playing, but Mum said

that was bad manners.

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

A compound-complex sentence combinescompound and complex sentences: two or more

main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

When the movie starts, you get the popcorn and

I’ll turn off the lights.subordinate

subordinate

main

main

main

main

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

• A clause has a subject (the person or thing the clause is about) and a predicate (the verb plus any objects and modifiers).• A complex sentence has one main clause

and one or more subordinate clauses.• A compound-complex sentence has two

or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

Grammar Toolkit

Complex sentences

The End