Hello everyone, and welcome back to my channel, Sparkle English, where I teach you how to improve
your level of English. In my last lesson, I talked about the difference between simple sentences and
compound sentences. And in today's lesson, we're going to talk about complex sentences. If you want
more videos on English grammar, make sure to check out my playlist in the description below on all of
my different grammar videos. So let's begin. First, let's briefly talk about simple versus
compound sentences. So a simple sentence contains one independent clause. It contains a subject and
a predicate. For example, the boy cheered. Here we have a subject, the boy, and a predicate cheered.
This sentence is an independent clause. It stands alone. It makes complete sense by itself.
Now, a compound sentence contains two independent clauses. It contains two
subjects and two predicates, joined by a comma plus a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
For example, the boy cheered and the girl laughed. This is a compound sentence. Here we have two
independent clauses, or two simple sentences. The boy cheered, the girl laughed. And we combine
this by a comma plus a coordinating conjunction, which are the fanboys: for and nor but or yet, so.
You can also combine the two independent clauses with a semicolon. And
both of these are compound sentences. So what is a complex sentence? A complex sentence contains
at least one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. For example, if it rains
tomorrow, we won't be able to go outside. Here we have the dependent clause, "if it rains tomorrow"
and we have the independent clause, "we won't be able to go outside."
We know this is a dependent clause because it contains a subject and a predicate. However,
it contains this subordinating conjunction if I went to my friend and said if it rains tomorrow,
she wouldn't understand what I mean. That clause does not make sense by itself. We need to add it
to the independent clause in order for it to make sense. Here's another example. She
decided to go to bed early because she was tired. We have our independent clause. She decided to go
to bed early. This makes sense completely by itself. However, the dependent clause,
because she was tired, this doesn't make sense by itself. We need the independent clause in
order for it to make sense. Now, in both of these sentences we have a subordinating conjunction if
and also because. And essentially, these subordinating conjunctions make this clause
dependent because she was tired makes sense by itself. However, because she was tired is a
dependent clause. It doesn't make sense by itself. Itself. So let's look at some more examples.
So, subordinating conjunctions are commonly found in complex sentences. There are many,
many, many different types of subordinating conjunctions. I won't talk about all of them now,
but I will do a video shortly. About this type of conjunction but here are some more
examples. Before she left, she said goodbye to her friends. We have the dependent clause in purple
before she left and the independent clause in blue. She said goodbye to her friends and we
have the subordinating conjunction before. As soon as he saw her, he knew he was in love. We
have the subordinating conjunction as soon as. Even though he was nervous, he did great on the test.
Again, we have subordinating conjunction even though which turns this clause into a dependent
clause. Jackson didn't pass the test even though he studied hard. Now, you can see
here that we have reversed the order and in all of these examples we could reverse the order.
She said goodbye to her friends before she left. He knew he was in love as soon as he
saw her. One thing important to note is that if the sentence begins with a dependent clause we
have a comma after it before she left comma. And then we introduce the independent clause. However,
if the sentence ends with the dependent clause we don't usually use a comma. So Jackson didn't
pass the test even though he studied hard. We don't need a comma here. I will buy a house on
the lake if I become wealthy. The phone rang while I was cooking dinner. So again, can you
spot this abortion? Coordinating conjunctions if and while we can also form complex sentences with
relative pronouns which are used like conjunctions here for example I decorated the Christmas tree
that my mom bought last year. That my mom bought last year is the. Dependent clause in this
sentence and I decorated the Christmas tree is the independent clause. She married a man who she met
at the train station. We visited the restaurant where my parents had their first date. So
now let's do a quiz. You have to identify the simple, compound and complex sentences.
Number one they packed their begs quickly and began their trip to the mountains.
Number two I submitted my project before the deadline. Number three josh was late for work
because he forgot to set the alarm. Number four we took a road trip to explore different cities.
Number five it's been a long day. I'm going to have a short nap.
Number six even though he is a kind man, he isn't good at teaching. Number
seven when I was a little girl, I used to build snowmen with my siblings.
Number eight the children and the teachers laughed enchanted during the tournament.
Number nine they looked up in awe at the magnificent mountains. Finally,
number ten charlie and Lucy have very different personalities, but they are best friends.
Okay, let's identify these sentences together. Number one is actually a simple sentence.
I know the sentence is long, but this sentence does not have two independent clauses. They
packed their bags quickly as an independent clause. But the second
part of the sentence began their trip to the mountains is not an independent clause.
This is actually a compound predicate, because both of these verbs. Have the same subject
packed and began. So this is just a simple sentence. Number two is also a simple sentence.
We only have one independent clause. Number three is a complex sentence.
Josh was late for work because he forgot to set the alarm. We have the independent clause. Josh
was late for work and we have the dependent clause with the subordinating conjunction
because he forgot to set the alarm. Number four is a simple sentence. We took a road trip to
explore different cities. Just one independent clause. Number five is a compound sentence.
We have two independent clauses joined with a semicolon. Number six is a complex sentence.
We have the subordinating conjunction even though it begins with a dependent clause, even though he
is a kind man and it finishes with an independent clause. Number seven is also a complex sentence.
We have the subordinating conjunction when when I was a little girl.
Number eight is actually a simple sentence. It's a simple sentence with a compound subject. The
children and the teachers and also a compound predicate laughed and chanted during the
tournament. Number nine is also a simple sentence. And finally number ten is a compound sentence.
We have two independent clauses. Charlie and Lucy have very different personalities. They are best
friends. And these two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction. But and
a comma. Okay, so let me know in the comments section how many got correct out of ten. I know
this was a little more difficult. If you want more practice on different types of sentences,
let me know in the comments section of this video. Thank you very much for watching. Make sure to
subscribe to Sparkle English for more lessons like this one and I will see you in my next video.