In this article, we will learn ‘what is compound-complex sentence’ along with definition, various examples, more than 10 sentence examples, structure, explanations, etc. Let’s explore!
What is Compound-Complex Sentence? Definition
Compound-Complex Sentence Basics
There are four basic sentence structures:
- compound-complex sentences,
- simple sentences,
- compound sentences, and
- complex sentences.
As the name suggests, Compound-Complex sentences contain the elements of both complex and compound sentences. They are the most sophisticated type of sentences to use for writers. By understanding deeply the meaning of Compound-Complex Sentences, you can get higher flexibility of writing, and long sentences with wide varieties to make the writing level into a new horizon.
Compound-Complex Sentence Definition
After getting the basic idea about the compound-complex sentence, let’s try to define it. ”A compound-complex sentence is defined as a type of sentence where minimum of two independent clauses are available along with at least one dependent clause”
Now, as this kind of sentence is related to clauses, it is necessary to learn the basics of clauses. Let’s dig some deeper. First of all, let’s understand what are the parts of a complex-compound sentence.
Parts of Compound-Complex Sentence & Examples
A complex-compound sentence can be more easily understood if you know how to break it up into its constituent parts. There must be at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, as we are aware of the basic rules.
Compound-Complex Sentence Part: Clause
The group of words that together form a complete sentence or just a part of a sentence is called a clause. A clause contains two things: a subject and a verb. For example:
- I have one banana.
- Look at those flowers.
- I love to visit Dubai and Switzerland.
Clauses are of further two types:
- Independent clause
- Dependent clause
Compound-Complex Sentence Part: Independent Clause
It is always possible for an independent clause to stand alone as a complete sentence. It is a summary of a story, which means it has a subject and a predicate. The subject will be a noun phrase and the predicate will be a verb phrase. Clauses that are independent of each other form a compound-complex sentence called a coordinate clause. Within the same sentence, they work together in coordination on equal terms.
The following are examples of independent clauses in compound-complex sentences, with the phrase independently featured in green. There’s a connection between them, on more or less equal terms, that they’re complete sentences, and that they are put together using conjunctions
This type of clause does not need any other group of words to make a complete sentence; they can stand individually on their own in a sentence. Independent clauses contain two things: a subject and a verb. Independent clauses are also known as the main clause. For example:
- After the play, we went to eat ice cream.
- For the last time, I will take the field.
- Before the movie, I went to the snack bar.
- In the morning, I went for a jog.
- Even though I am tired, I will give my best effort.
Compound-Complex Sentence Part: Dependent Clause
When complex compound sentences have dependent clauses, the clauses will not make sense without the other clauses of the sentence. Thus, they are not complete sentences on their own. However, dependent clauses do not express a complete thought, despite having a subject and a predicate like independent clauses. Their introduction is usually done by words like while, if, and because, which make no sense without words not included in the dependent clause.
This type of clause does need some other group of words(Independent clause) to make a complete sentence; they can’t stand individually on their own in a sentence. Dependent clauses are also known as subordinate clauses. Dependent clauses are like an addition to a sentence to provide some explanation of the independent clauses in a sentence. For example:
- After the play, we went to eat ice cream.
- For the last time, I will take the field.
- Before the movie, I went to the snack bar.
- In the morning, I went for a jog.
- Even though I am tired, I will give my best effort.
Meaning of Complex and Compound Sentences
Complex Part in Complex and Compound Sentences
Complex sentences contain two types of clauses: the independent clause and the dependent clause. So thereby complex sentences join one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses to make a complete sentence. Subordinating conjunctions are used to form complex sentences.
Also, this is a fact that in complex sentences, both clauses are unequal. Or in other words, the independent clause is superior to the dependent clause. For example:
- I didn’t go to the party because I was not well-dressed.
- Jerry cooked the food because John was sick.
- As Rohan was well prepared, he got selected for the interview.
Compound Part in Complex and Compound Sentences
Compound sentences contain only one type of clause: independent clause. So thereby compound sentences join two or more than two independent clauses to make a complete sentence. Coordinating conjunctions are used in Compound sentences to form a sentence and join the independent clauses.
And in Compound sentences, this is a fact that both the independent clauses are equal. Or in other words, both independent clauses carry equal importance in a sentence. For example:
- Either Rohan or Ram will go to the school.
- Rohan is good-looking, but he is very naughty.
- I cooked the food and Preeti served it on the dinner table.
Now let’s move forward to understand the meaning of Compound-Complex sentences.
Connectors in Compound and Complex Sentences
By understanding the connectors used in Compound and Complex sentences, one can easily do the formation of Compound-Complex sentences.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions are used to connect independent clauses in a compound sentence. Both the clauses are of equal grammatical rank and syntactic importance in the sentence. The commonly used coordinating conjunctions are as follows. For example-
- For
- And
- Nor
- But
- Or
- Yet
- So
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect independent and dependent clauses in a complex sentence. The commonly used subordinating conjunctions are as follows. For example-
- After
- Although
- Because
- As
- Before
- Even though
- Now that
- Though
- Unless
- Until
- When
- Where
- While
Conjunctive Adverbs
The type of adverbs that are used to join two independent clauses is called conjunctive adverbs. The commonly used conjunctive adverbs are, as listed below. For example:
- After all
- In addition
- Next
- Also
- As a result
- Besides
- Consequently
- Finally
- For example
- Furthermore
- Hence
- However
- Nevertheless
- Moreover
- Meanwhile
- Likewise
- Instead
- In other words
- In fact
- Indeed
- Incidentally
- Nonetheless
- Otherwise
- Still
- Then
- On the contrary
- On the other hand
- Therefore
- Thus
Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to join two dependent clauses. The commonly used relative pronouns are listed below. For example:
- Who
- Whom
- Which
- Why
- When
- Where
- Whose
- That
Compound-Complex Sentences Structure & Examples
By understanding the name, Compound-Complex sentences contain the attributes of both compound sentences and complex sentences. In other words, a Compound-Complex sentence is one that contains two or more independent clauses as well as at least one dependent clause. They are a bit longer than normal complex and compound sentences.
Compound-Complex Sentence Structure
Let’s see the structure of Compound-complex sentences! The structure is simple!
| Type of Sentence | Sentence Structure | Sentence Examples |
| Compound-complex sentence | 2 Independent Clauses + 1 Dependent clause | I am afraid of horror movies, but because of my best actor, I watched the entire movie. |
Compound-Complex Sentence Examples
Let’s see more than 10 examples for an explanation. However, let’s see one example for explanation. Example
- Though Riju likes to play football, he opted to visit the seashore with his brother,
and he enjoyed the place a lot there.
Explanation
- In the above example, if we observe, we can find out that there are two independent clauses & one dependent clause.
- Independent clauses – (1) he opted to visit the seashore with his brother, (2) he enjoyed the place a lot there.
- Dependent Clause – (1) Though Riju likes to play football,
Let’s see a table with examples, as below
| Compound-complex sentences | Independent clauses | Dependent clauses |
| While Rehan plays football, Mohan plays basketball, but Sani doesn’t like to play. | (1) Mohan plays basketball, (2) Sani doesn’t like to play. | While Rehan plays football |
| Rehan plays football, but Mohan plays basketball because football is a tough game. | (1) Rehan plays football(2) Mohan plays basketball | because football is a tough game |
| Jitu, who plays football, rarely plays basketball; however, Rehan loves to play football. | (1) Jitu, rarely plays basketball (2) Rehan loves to play football | who plays football |
| I was looking for my kitten all day long, but it seems like he was asleep under my blue blanket. | (1) I was looking for my kitten all day long, (2) he was asleep | under my blue blanket |
| I chopped all the salmon for dinner, so we will be able to have a romantic dinner with my girlfriend. | (1) I chopped all the salmon for dinner, (2) we will be able to have a romantic dinner | with my girlfriend. |
| When my mother shouted at me, I got upset, so I slept early | (1) I got upset (2) I slept early | When my mother shouted at me |
| Though Mrinmoy likes to play basketball, he opted to visit North Bengal with his sister, and he enjoyed it a lot. | (1) he opted to visit North Bengal with his sister, (2) he enjoyed it a lot | Though Mrinmoy likes to play basketball |
| Even if I am tired, I will never avoid going shopping, but I will avoid studying. | (1) I will never avoid going shopping (2) I will avoid studying | Even if I am tired |
| When my father shouted at me, I was never upset, I simply focus on my resolution. | (1) I was never upset (2) I simply focus on my resolution | When my father shouted at me |
Compound-Complex Sentences Punctuation Patterns
By individually studying the punctuation patterns of complex and compound sentences, one can understand the punctuation patterns for Compound-Complex sentences.
Punctuation patterns for Compound sentences
Independent clause1, + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent clause2
- Independent clause1 + ; + Independent clause2
- Independent clause + ; + conjunctive adverb + , + independent clause
Punctuation patterns for Complex sentences
- A dependent clause + , + independent clause
- Independent clause + dependent clause
- Independent clause + , + nonessential dependent clause +, + clause
- Independent essential + dependent clause
Proper Process of Writing a Complex Compound Sentence
We now know the components of compound-complex sentences, so let’s put them together. The process is as simple as creating two sentences and adding an extra bit of information, then linking them all together with conjunctions. Let’s create a brand new sentence to demonstrate how to do it.
First Write an Independent Sentence
In your compound-complex sentence, you should have a strong main idea in your first independent clause, since it will continue to be a major idea over the course of your sentence. For Example:
- The dog jumped on the couch.
Then Write the Appropriate Independent Clause
A second independent clause should be related to the first independent clause. A second independent clause should either continue describing the action or add information that is equally important to the first independent clause; often this means the two independent clauses have the same subject or share another word, but not necessarily; the second clause must either continue describing the action or add another word. For Example:
- The dog sat down on the Air Conditioner Remote.
It continues the action and is at least as important as the first independent clause. We can now move on to the dependent clause.
Dependent Clause
We’ve already written two independent clauses. A dependent clause can add detail or explain something, but it can’t be a complete sentence on its own. Here is a dependent clause:
just when you were reaching for the remote control
It makes more sense when we put it in the right place and add the proper conjunctions.
So the complex compound sentence will be:
The dog jumped on the couch & (the dog) sat down on the air conditioner remote just when you were reaching for the remote control.
Conclusion
Hence, we have learned the basics of a compound-complex sentence, its definition, examples, explanations, etc. Check out our most interesting articles,
