Subordination: The Complex Sentence

Complex Sentence:

· One independent clause

· One or more dependent clauses

*Use a comma after a dependent clause that is before the main clause

Ex: Because I was late, I did not eat breakfast.

I did not eat breakfast because I was late.

*A relative clause can be the dependent clause in a complex sentence.

Ex: The juice that I brought had expired.

Creating Complex Sentences:

A complex sentence combines two ideas of unequal value:

· Main idea= independent clause

· Subordinate idea= dependent clause

To Do:

· Select the subordinating conjunction that will best show the relationship between the two clauses: See page 425

· Decide where the dependent clause should be: before, after, within

· If dep. clause comes before indep. clause, set it off with a comma:

Ex: After I taught my class, I got an apple fritter at Starbucks.

Complex Sentences with Relative Clauses:

If the relative clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence, do not set it off.

If it is not necessary for meaning, set it off.

That: The clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Ex: The soda machine that is out by the MTs often eats your money.

Which: The clause is not necessary for meaning.

Ex: It is often out of Vanilla Pepsi, which is my favorite.

Who: May be necessary or unnecessary, depending on the sentence.

Ex: The man who is standing by the car looks suspicious.

Ex: The man, who was more honest than most, lied.