Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more dependent clause.
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Look at the following sentences. These are examples of independent clauses, also called simple sentences:
I love shopping.
There were no clothing stores in this neighborhood.
The weight room and pool are free to use.
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These sentences are grammatically complete and have a complete idea.
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Now look at the following dependent clauses:
Because it relieves my stress.
When I first moved here.
Even though they actually belong to the hotel.
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Dependent clauses begin with words like:
When
While
Before
As soon as
After
As
Since
Because
Although
Even though
Though
If
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A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that doesn't make complete sense on its own. It is an incomplete idea.
Dependent clauses need to go with an independent clause in order to be complete.
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The sentences below don't make complete sense. They need to go with an independent clause to be understood.
Because it relieves my stress.
When I first moved here.
Even though they actually belong to the hotel.
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Now look at the the following examples of complex sentences. The independent clauses are in blue, and the dependent clauses are in green.
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Examples
I love shoppingbecause it relieves my stress.
There were no clothing stores in this neighborhoodwhen I first moved here.
The weight room and pool are free to useeven though they actually belong to the hotel.
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Sentence Order
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In a complex sentence, the clauses can come in either order. It is your choice. If we start a sentence with an independent clause and then a dependent clause, we do not need to use commas.
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However, if the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, we must put a comma after the dependent clause.
Again, the independent clauses are in blue, and the dependent clauses are in green. Commas are in orange.
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Examples
Because it relievesmy stress,I love shopping.
When I first moved here,there were no clothing stores in this neighborhood.
Even though they actually belong to the hotel,the weight room and pool are free to use.