A Compound-Complex Sentence is a type of sentence that combines elements of both a compound sentence and a complex sentence. In other words, a compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Clause Explanation
- Independent Clause: A part of the sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it has a subject and a predicate.
- Dependent Clause: A part of the sentence that cannot stand alone and requires an independent clause to provide full meaning. A dependent clause usually begins with a subordinating conjunction like because, although, if, when, or since.
Characteristics of a Compound-Complex Sentence
- Contains two or more independent clauses.
- Contains one or more dependent clauses.
- Uses a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or, or so) to connect independent clauses.
- Uses a subordinating conjunction to link the dependent clause.
Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences
- “Because it was raining, the game was postponed, and we decided to go home.”
- Dependent Clause: “Because it was raining”
- Independent Clause 1: “the game was postponed”
- Independent Clause 2: “we decided to go home”
- Explanation: This sentence combines two independent clauses (“the game was postponed” and “we decided to go home”) with a dependent clause (“Because it was raining”).
- “I wanted to travel abroad, but because I had no money, I stayed home.”
- Independent Clause 1: “I wanted to travel abroad”
- Independent Clause 2: “I stayed home”
- Dependent Clause: “because I had no money”
- Explanation: This sentence combines two independent clauses with a dependent clause that provides a reason for the action taken.
- “She didn’t want to go to the party because she was tired, but she went anyway to support her friend.”
- Dependent Clause: “because she was tired”
- Independent Clause 1: “She didn’t want to go to the party”
- Independent Clause 2: “she went anyway to support her friend”
- Explanation: This sentence provides a reason (dependent clause) and two separate actions (independent clauses) connected by the word but.
Structure of a Compound-Complex Sentence
- Independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause + dependent clause
- Example: “I finished my homework, but because it was late, I didn’t watch TV.”
- Dependent clause + independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause
- Example: “Although it was raining, we went hiking, and we had a great time.”
Additional Examples
- “When the bell rang, the students packed their bags, and they left the classroom.”
- Dependent Clause: “When the bell rang”
- Independent Clause 1: “the students packed their bags”
- Independent Clause 2: “they left the classroom”
- “I like to read books that are interesting, and I also enjoy watching movies.”
- Dependent Clause: “that are interesting”
- Independent Clause 1: “I like to read books”
- Independent Clause 2: “I also enjoy watching movies”
Compound-Complex Sentence Exercises
- Sentence: “Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed early.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “I wanted to go to the party, but I had to study because I had an exam the next day.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “While I was cooking, my brother cleaned the house, and my sister finished her homework.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “She didn’t like the movie because it was too long, but her friends loved it.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “Even though it was raining, we decided to go for a walk, and we enjoyed it.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “I would have called you, but my phone was dead since I forgot to charge it.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “The teacher gave us extra time because the exam was difficult, and we were grateful.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “Although I don’t usually like horror movies, I watched one with my friends, and it was fun.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “After they finished their work, they went to the park, and they played soccer.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
- Sentence: “Because I didn’t study, I failed the test, but I will try harder next time.”
- a. Identify the independent clauses.
- b. Identify the dependent clause.
Answers
- Sentence: “Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed early.”
- a. Independent clauses: “she finished her homework”, “she went to bed early”
- b. Dependent clause: “Although she was tired”
- Sentence: “I wanted to go to the party, but I had to study because I had an exam the next day.”
- a. Independent clauses: “I wanted to go to the party”, “I had to study”
- b. Dependent clause: “because I had an exam the next day”
- Sentence: “While I was cooking, my brother cleaned the house, and my sister finished her homework.”
- a. Independent clauses: “my brother cleaned the house”, “my sister finished her homework”
- b. Dependent clause: “While I was cooking”
- Sentence: “She didn’t like the movie because it was too long, but her friends loved it.”
- a. Independent clauses: “She didn’t like the movie”, “her friends loved it”
- b. Dependent clause: “because it was too long”
- Sentence: “Even though it was raining, we decided to go for a walk, and we enjoyed it.”
- a. Independent clauses: “we decided to go for a walk”, “we enjoyed it”
- b. Dependent clause: “Even though it was raining”
- Sentence: “I would have called you, but my phone was dead since I forgot to charge it.”
- a. Independent clauses: “I would have called you”, “my phone was dead”
- b. Dependent clause: “since I forgot to charge it”
- Sentence: “The teacher gave us extra time because the exam was difficult, and we were grateful.”
- a. Independent clauses: “The teacher gave us extra time”, “we were grateful”
- b. Dependent clause: “because the exam was difficult”
- Sentence: “Although I don’t usually like horror movies, I watched one with my friends, and it was fun.”
- a. Independent clauses: “I watched one with my friends”, “it was fun”
- b. Dependent clause: “Although I don’t usually like horror movies”
- Sentence: “After they finished their work, they went to the park, and they played soccer.”
- a. Independent clauses: “they went to the park”, “they played soccer”
- b. Dependent clause: “After they finished their work”
- Sentence: “Because I didn’t study, I failed the test, but I will try harder next time.”
- a. Independent clauses: “I failed the test”, “I will try harder next time”
- b. Dependent clause: “Because I didn’t study”
Follow other English tutorials as well: What are Nouns and their Types, Understanding Regular and Irregular Verbs, Understanding Adjectives, Understanding Adverbs, Understanding Interjections, Definition and Use of Subject, Predicate, Object, Simple Sentences, Complex Sentences, Compound Sentences, Simple Present Tense, Simple Past Tense, Understanding Pronouns, Understanding Prepositions, Understanding Conjunction
Conclusion
Compound-complex sentences are longer and more complex than compound or complex sentences. These sentences allow the writer to convey more detailed ideas by combining multiple main ideas (independent clauses) and additional explanations or details (dependent clauses) in a single sentence.
Compound-complex sentences are commonly used in formal writing or narratives to link complex ideas or present information in a richer and more varied manner.
Author at Media Aplikatif Sinergi
Lisna is an experienced practitioner of English in a foreign company. With a background in law and experience in English discussion groups during her university years, Lisna will guide you in learning English in an easy and enjoyable way. She has a passion for providing effective and beneficial learning materials.