Complex-compound sentences

 Let's break down complex-compound sentences. They sound intimidating, but they're just a combination of two simpler sentence types: complex and compound. Understanding the parts makes the whole much easier.

1. Compound Sentences:

• Definition: Two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) or a semicolon.
• Example: The dog barked loudly, and the cat ran away.
  • "The dog barked loudly" is an independent clause (it can stand alone as a sentence).
  • "The cat ran away" is also an independent clause.
  • "and" is the coordinating conjunction joining them.

2. Complex Sentences:

• Definition: One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
• Dependent Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it starts with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., although, because, since, when, while, if, unless) or a relative pronoun (e.g., who, whom, which, that).
• Example: Because it was raining, the game was canceled.
  • "The game was canceled" is the independent clause.
  • "Because it was raining" is the dependent clause. It can't be a sentence on its own.

3. Complex-Compound Sentences:

• Definition: Two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Essentially, it combines the features of both complex and compound sentences.
• Example: Although the team played well, they lost the game, but they weren't discouraged.
  • "They lost the game" is an independent clause.
  • "They weren't discouraged" is another independent clause.
  • "Although the team played well" is the dependent clause.
  • "but" is the coordinating conjunction joining the two independent clauses.

Let's look at another example:

• While I was waiting for the bus, I listened to music, and I read a book.
  • "I listened to music" is an independent clause.
  • "I read a book" is another independent clause.
  • "While I was waiting for the bus" is the dependent clause.
  • "and" joins the two independent clauses.

Key Points to Remember:

• Independent clauses can stand alone; dependent clauses cannot.
• Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) join independent clauses in compound and complex-compound sentences.
• Subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns introduce dependent clauses in complex and complex-compound sentences.

Practice Time!

Try to identify the independent and dependent clauses in these sentences:

1. Even though it was late, she finished her homework, and she went to bed.
2. The cat sat on the mat while the dog slept, but the bird flew away.
3. Because the store was closed, I went home, and I made dinner.

Understanding complex-compound sentences takes practice. The key is to break them down into their component parts: the independent and dependent clauses, and the conjunctions that connect them. Once you can identify these parts, you'll be able to understand and write these more complex sentence structures with ease.

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By Jerry Ramonyai