Which are examples of complex sentences? Check all that apply.
I love all kinds of seafood, but shrimp is my favorite.
Before you eat the sandwich, please cut it in half.
Carl needs to find his cell phone, or he may borrow mine.
When we are ready to leave, we will send you a text message.
If she starts to get warm, Janna will turn on the air conditioner.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct examples of complex sentences from the list are:
✅ Before you eat the sandwich, please cut it in half.
✅ When we are ready to leave, we will send you a text message.
✅ If she starts to get warm, Janna will turn on the air conditioner.
❌ Not complex sentences:
- I love all kinds of seafood, but shrimp is my favorite. – Compound sentence
- Carl needs to find his cell phone, or he may borrow mine. – Compound sentence
✅ Explanation (approx. 300 words):
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. The independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while the dependent clause cannot.
Let’s look at the correct examples:
- “Before you eat the sandwich, please cut it in half.”
- Dependent clause: Before you eat the sandwich
- Independent clause: please cut it in half
- This is a complex sentence because the dependent clause sets up a condition/time for the main action.
- “When we are ready to leave, we will send you a text message.”
- Dependent clause: When we are ready to leave
- Independent clause: we will send you a text message
- The dependent clause introduces when the action will occur, making the sentence complex.
- “If she starts to get warm, Janna will turn on the air conditioner.”
- Dependent clause: If she starts to get warm
- Independent clause: Janna will turn on the air conditioner
- The condition set by the dependent clause affects the action in the main clause.
In contrast, compound sentences contain two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
- “I love all kinds of seafood, but shrimp is my favorite.” – two independent clauses joined by “but”
- “Carl needs to find his cell phone, or he may borrow mine.” – two independent clauses joined by “or”
Understanding the difference between sentence types helps improve writing clarity and variety.