Complex sentences are sentences with more than one subject and one verb connected by linking words and conjunctions. Using complex sentences in academic writing is very important because if you write too many short and simple SVO (subject-verb-object) sentences, your writing will be simple, ‘choppy’ and uncomfortable for your reader. Therefore, it is necessary to practise writing complex sentences.

Consider the following example:

• The course exam was difficult. The students received a high grade.

This is an example of simple, ‘choppy’ (not smooth) SVO writing. It is more comfortable for your reader if you connect the two ideas with linking words or conjunctions in a complex sentence. That way your reader does not need to stop so often. For example:

• Although the course was difficult, the students received a high grade.
  

  or

• Despite the difficulty of the course, the students received a high grade.

These sentences are complex because (i) they contain an independent clause:
	{the students received a high grade}
and (ii) a dependent clause:
	{Although the course was difficult / Despite the difficulty of the course}

Independent clauses are called ‘independent’ because they can ‘stand alone’ (without a dependent clause).
Dependent clauses cannot stand alone.

Some of the linking words that are often used to introduce dependent clauses for complex sentences are as follows:

	To introduce a dependent clause that adds a new / another idea: to express an additional point	To introduce a dependent clause that expresses cause and effect: to show that one idea may cause another	To introduce a dependent clause that expresses contrast (differences) between two ideas
Introduces a dependent clause;  it must be followed by a subject and a verb		-Because -Based on…   e.g. Because the exam was approaching, Peter stayed home and studied hard every evening.	-While -Although -Though -Even though e.g. While the cost of living is very high in HK, food is not too expensive.
Must be followed by a noun phrase	-In addition to -For   e.g. In addition to playing guitar in a band, Jim hikes, swims and reads. For those who wish to attend, a ticket must be purchased.	-Due to -Because of -By -Based on e.g. Due to the high cost of the concert tickets, John decided not to go. By studying hard for weeks, he was able to pass the exam. Based on the data, there is a tendency for boys to be more violent than girls.	-In spite of / Despite     e.g.  In spite of the high cost of the concert tickets, John decided to go. Despite the high cost of the concert tickets, John decided to go.

Unscrambling dependent clauses to make complex sentences (1): instructions

Read the red and black words above each box then re-order them to make dependent clauses that complete each complex sentence. (The words in red are those shown when you click ‘Show hint’.) The first one has been done for you.

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ERIC Identifier: ED341892 Publication Date: 1991-12-31 Author: Mohai, Caroline E. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and Personnel Services Ann Arbor MI.

http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED341892.pdf Copyright information: http://www.ericdigests.org/about.html