Which of the following sentences correctly uses a complex sentence structure?
A.
They had to decide between adopting a cat or a dog at the rescue shelter.
B.
Whenever the boys played in the rain, they came home with muddy clothes.
C.
The student brought her laptop, textbooks, and parking pass.
D.
She wanted to go to the beach after she left work.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Whenever the boys played in the rain, they came home with muddy clothes.
Explanation:
A complex sentence contains one independent clause (a complete thought that can stand alone) and at least one dependent clause (a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence). The dependent clause is often introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “although,” “because,” “since,” “unless,” “if,” and “whenever.”
Option B is a complex sentence. It has an independent clause, “they came home with muddy clothes,” which could stand alone as a sentence. It also includes a dependent clause, “Whenever the boys played in the rain,” introduced by the subordinating conjunction “Whenever.” The dependent clause provides additional information about when the boys came home with muddy clothes, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. The combination of these two clauses forms a complex sentence structure.
Option A is a simple sentence, not a complex sentence. It contains a compound element (“a cat or a dog”), but there is only one independent clause: “They had to decide between adopting a cat or a dog at the rescue shelter.” No dependent clause or subordinating conjunction is present.
Option C is also a simple sentence. Although it includes a list of items (“her laptop, textbooks, and parking pass”), it contains only one independent clause: “The student brought her laptop, textbooks, and parking pass.” Again, no dependent clause is present.
Option D may seem complex because of the phrase “after she left work,” but it is not a complex sentence. It is a compound sentence because “after she left work” can function as a dependent clause, but in this context, it is part of the independent clause: “She wanted to go to the beach after she left work.” There is no subordinating conjunction separating two clauses.
In conclusion, a complex sentence involves the combination of an independent clause with a dependent clause that adds depth or detail. Option B fits this structure, making it the correct choice.