COMPLEX SENTENCES (WRITING)

Introduction

—  A complex sentence contains one  independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause(s).

—  In complex sentence, one idea is generally more important than the other one. One important idea is placed in the independent clause, and the less important idea is placed in the dependent clause.

—  There are three kinds of dependent clauses: adverb, adjective, and noun.

—  Since the adverbial clause is a dependent clause, it cannot stand alone. It must be combined with an independent clause to form complex sentence.

—  An adverbial clause can come either before or after an independent clause.

—  If it comes before an independent clause, a comma is placed after it.

Example:

—  Because scientists are interested in the planets, they send spacecraft to orbit them.

Adverbial Clauses

—  An adverbial clause is a dependent clause introduced by an adverbial subordinator.

—  It is used to modify the verb of the independent clause and tells  when (time), where (place), why (reason), for what purpose, how, how long, or how far. It is also used to show contrast: concession (unexpected result) and direct opposition.

Types of Adverbial Clauses

—  Time

—  Place

—  Distance/Frequency

—  Manner

—  Reason

—  Result

—  Purpose

—  Concession (unexpected result)

—  Contrast (direct opposition)

Time

SUBORDINATORS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
When	At point in time/short duration	•       When people had to hunt for food, they had continuous moderate exercise. •       People were eating a lot of protein while they were living  on farms. •       After people moved to urban areas, they  had less protein in their diet. •      Our eating habits changed as soon as food processing methods improved.
Whenever	At any time
While	At the same time/longer duration
As soon as	Immediately at or instantly after the time that
After	Following the time that
Since	From that time/moment
As	While/when
Before	Earlier than the time when
until	Up to the time of

SUBORDINATORS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
Where	A definite place	•        Most people prefer to shop where they can be sure of quality. •        I usually stop for lunch anywhere that is handy. •        Everywhere I shop, I use my credit cards. •        Consumers usually prefer to do business wherever credit cards are accepted.
Anywhere	Anyplace
Wherever	Anyplace
everywhere	everyplace

Place

Distance and Frequency

SUBORDINATORS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
As + adverb +as	comparison	•        Pat jogs on the beach as far as she can. •        She jogs on the beach as often as she can.

—  Adverbial clause of distance answers the question “HOW FAR?”

—  Adverbial clause of frequency answers the question  “HOW OFTEN?”

Manner

—  Adverbial clause of manner answer s the question “HOW?”

SUBORDINATORS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
As	In the way or manner that/ like	•        The demonstrators left as the police had ordered. •        Kathleen spoke as if (as though) she were an authority on the subject.
As if
As though

Result

—  An adverbial result clause expresses the result of what is stated in the independent clause.

SUBORDINATORS	MEANING	EXAMPLE
So + adjective + that	With the result that	She is so beautiful that many boys  admire her so much. The cost of education is rising so rapidly that students are looking for ways to cut costs. The library is such a big place that I couldn’t find the book I needed. There is  always so much noise in the dormitory that I can’t study there.
So + adverb + that
Such a(n) + noun phrase + that
So much/many/little/few + noun phrase + that