Module 10, Clauses, Lesson 9:

Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences

Score:
Definition:
A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Before we arrived at school, we met up at the coffee house across the street.
We met up at the coffee house across the street [independent]
+ before we arrived at school (dependent)
= complex sentence

(Before we arrived at school),[we met up at the coffee house across the street.]

Clara, who has an incredible voice, was asked to sing the school song.
Clara was asked to sing the school song [independent]
+ who has an incredible voice (dependent)
= complex sentence

[Clara, (who has an incredible voice), was asked to sing the school song.]

The book that I had found disappeared after Julia returned it to me.
The book disappeared [independent]
+ I had found that (dependent)
+ after Julia returned it to me (dependent)
= complex sentence

[The book (that I had found) disappeared] (after Julia returned it to me.)

Definition:
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

My father and I went to the movie that I had been wanting to see, and then we went to the restaurant near the theater.
My father and I went to the movie [independent]
+ then we went to the restaurant near the theater [independent]
+ I had been wanting to see that (dependent)
= compound-complex sentence

[My father and I went to the movie] (that I had been wanting to see), and [then we went to the restaurant near the theater.]

Before they were friends, Louisa and Julie knew Aimee, but they didn't realize that they knew her until they met.
Before they were friends (dependent)
+ Louisa and Julie knew Aimee [independent]
+ They didn't realize [independent]
+ that they knew her (dependent)
+ until they met (dependent)
= compound-complex sentence

[(Before they were friends), Louisa and Julie knew Aimee], but [they didn't realize (that they knew her) (until they met).]

Practice What You've Learned

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Directions:
Identify each sentence as complex or compound-complex.
1.
Before you leave for school, you need to make sure you have your lunch.
complex / compound-complex
2.
We can put together the puzzle, which Aunt Lucy brought, or we can play the board game that was in the closet.
complex / compound-complex
3.
The laptop that I bought last year is still working, but the new one that my sister bought me has crashed.
complex / compound-complex
4.
You will need to ride the bus today since your bicycle has a flat tire.
complex / compound-complex
5.
The teacher showed one class the movie based on the book that they had read, but the other class didn't have time.
complex / compound-complex
6.
The team that you used to play for has done well this year even though they didn't win all their games.
complex / compound-complex
7.
Terri didn't want to get wet, but when her sister pushed her into the pool, she didn't have a choice.
complex / compound-complex
8.
Although the temperatures have been in the 30s, it doesn't feel so cold because there hasn't been any wind.
complex / compound-complex
9.
Because you forgot to turn the oven on, the pizza that has been in there for thirty minutes is still cold.
complex / compound-complex
10.
The photographs that Grandma had in boxes in her attic were faded and cracked, but we were able to scan and restore them for her.
complex / compound-complex
Score: