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OVERVIEW OF
THIS CHAPTER
● (^) Building Complex Sentences 354 ● (^) Recognizing Complex Sentences 370 ● (^) Solving Problems in Complex Sentences: Fragments Beginning with Subordinating Conjunctions 374 ● (^) Bringing It All Together 381
Chapter 13
The Complex Sentence
Both of these are complex sentences. They have the same basic meaning, but there are important differences. You’ll learn why in this chapter. CONJUNCTION (^) + NOUN (^) + VERB (^) + , + NOUN (^) + VERB (^) +. = Because I study, I learn. NOUN (^) + VERB (^) + CONJUNCTION (^) + NOUN (^) + VERB (^) +. = I learn because I study.
Building Complex Sentences
In the previous chapter, you learned that coordinating conjunctions ( and, but, or, and so, and less commonly for, nor, and yet ) work like glue to join simple sen- tences into compound sentences.
SIMPLE SENTENCE 1^ SENTENCE 2 SENTENCES Our team won. We celebrated. COMPOUND SENTENCE 1^ SENTENCE 2 SENTENCE Our team won, so we celebrated. COORDINATING CONJUNCTION PRECEDED BY COMMA
In this chapter, you will study subordinating conjunctions , another group of words that work like glue to join simple sentences into what are known as complex sentences.
SIMPLE SENTENCE 1^ SENTENCE 2 SENTENCES Our team won. We celebrated. COMPLEX SENTENCE 1^ SENTENCE 2 SENTENCE Since our team won, we celebrated. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION
From these examples, you can already see that coordinating and subordinating conjunc- tions work in a very similar way. However, you should keep some differences in mind: ● (^) There are more subordinating conjunctions than coordinating conjunctions. ● (^) Subordinating conjunctions may be trickier to use than coordinating conjunctions. ● (^) Subordinating conjunctions have different rules for punctuation. ● (^) If you do not correctly punctuate sentences with subordinating conjunc- tions, you can create a sentence fragment.
KEY TO BUILDING BLOCKS FOUNDATION WORDS NOUNS VERBS DESCRIPTIVE WORDS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS CONNECTING WORDS PREPOSITIONS CONJUNCTIONS
Subordinating conjunctions are like a glue gun. When you use a glue gun, you need to be especially careful because you have more power and more risk of making a mistake. Likewise, when you use subordinating conjunctions instead of coordinat- ing conjunctions, you also have more power and more risk of making a mistake.
UNDERSTANDING COORDINATING VERSUS
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
From Chapter 12, you may remember that we use coordinating conjunctions to
● (^) combine similar ideas ● (^) show a result ● (^) contrast different ideas ● (^) show alternatives
This chart reviews the relationships shown by coordinating conjunctions, and those shown by subordinating conjunctions. Examples of these relationships follow.
Relationships Shown by Conjunctions
COMBINATION CONTRAST RESULT ALTERNATIVES/ POSSIBILITIES Coordinating conjunctions
and (nor)
but (yet)
so (for)
or
Subordinating conjunctions
after as before when while
although even though
because since
if even if unless until
In each of the following sentence pairs, both sentences express the same idea. However, the first sentence uses a coordinating conjunction , and the second uses a subordinating conjunction. In the second (complex) sentence, the subor- dinating conjunction comes at the beginning of the sentence. The comma is in the middle of both sentences.
Combining two similar ideas The clouds passed, and the moon appeared. After the clouds passed, the moon appeared.
Contrasting two different ideas Blanca always remembers, but Bert always forgets. Although Blanca always remembers, Bert always forgets.
Showing a result Our team won, so we celebrated. Because our team won, we celebrated.
Showing alternatives or possibilities You must study, or you will fail. Unless you study, you will fail.
Power Tip Avoid using both although/even though and but in the same sentence. You need just one of these expressions per sentence. Incorrect: Although I left the house early, but I was still late for work. Correct: Although I left the house early, I was late for work.
FOUNDATION WORDS NOUNS VERBS DESCRIPTIVE WORDS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS CONNECTING WORDS PREPOSITIONS CONJUNCTIONS
Subordinating Conjunctions after, although, as, because, before, even, even if, if, since, though, unless, until, when, while
Building Complex Sentences 355
- Greg walked into his apartment. We all jumped up and yelled, “Surprise!” Compound sentence:
Complex sentence:
- Greg loved the chocolate cake. He loved the pineapple ice cream even more. Compound sentence:
Complex sentence:
ACTIVITY 2
First, complete each compound sentence. Then, rewrite each compound sentence as a complex sentence, using a subordinating conjunction at the beginning. For a list of subordinating conjunctions, see page 365.
EXAMPLE:
Compound sentence: Don’t shake the bottle, or it will explode.
Complex sentence: If you shake the bottle, it will explode.
- Compound sentence: We must leave by noon, or Complex sentence:
- Compound sentence: The exam was long, but Complex sentence:
- Compound sentence: You should close the door, or Complex sentence:
- Compound sentence: Beverly drove too quickly, and
Complex sentence:
- Compound sentence: We lost power on campus, so Complex sentence:
Building Complex Sentences 357
For online practice with complex sentences, visit this book’s Web site at bedfordstmartins .com/steppingstones.
358 Chapter 13 • The Complex Sentence
UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS SHOWN
BY SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Different subordinating conjunctions signal different meanings and relationships in complex sentences. The following sections describe the most common relationships.
Combinations with Time
We use the conjunctions before, after, when, while, and as to combine ideas. Each of these conjunctions shows a different time relationship between the two parts of the sentence. Consider the following examples:
Before the brakes failed, everything was fi ne.
Here, we are combining two ideas: The brakes failed. Everything was fine. The conjunction before tells us the order in which these two things happened — one before the other.
After the brakes failed, I pulled the emergency brake.
Here, we are combining two ideas: The brakes failed. I pulled the emergency brake. The conjunction after tells us the order in which these two things happened — one after the other.
When the brakes failed, I panicked.
Here, we are combining two ideas: The brakes failed. I panicked. The conjunction when tells us that the two things happened at the exact same moment.
As the brakes failed, I looked for an exit.
Here, we are combining two ideas: The brakes failed. I looked for an exit. The con- junctions while or as tell us that the two things were happening during the same period of time.
ACTIVITY 3 Join the following sentences with before , after , when , while , or as.
EXAMPLE: The door slammed. I jumped. Complex sentence: When the door slammed, I jumped.
- Lightning struck nearby. The house shook. Complex sentence:
- I was typing my report. The power went out. Complex sentence:
- They kissed their children. They left on their trip. Complex sentence:
BEFOREBEFORE
AFTER
WHEN
WHILE/AS
360 Chapter 13 • The Complex Sentence
ACTIVITY 5 Examine each of the following pairs of complex sentences and decide whether each sen- tence shows an expected result or an unexpected result (a contrast). Then, use since/ because or although/even though to complete the sentence. EXAMPLE: a. Since^ my car ran out of gas, I was late for work. b. Although^ my car ran out of gas, I was on time for work.
- a. the watch was very expensive, I bought it. b. the watch was very expensive, I did not buy it.
- a. the weather was cold, we did not go to the football game. b. the weather was cold, we went to the football game.
- a. the key lime pie looked delicious, we turned it down. b. the key lime pie looked delicious, we each had a slice.
ACTIVITY 6 For each of the following items, complete the first sentence with an expected result. Complete the second sentence with an unexpected result (a contrast).
EXAMPLE: a. Because Alexis lost her cell phone, she could not call her parents. b. Even though Alexis lost her cell phone, she was able to reach her parents by pay phone.
- a. Since the Willow Creek Bridge was under construction,
b. Although the Willow Creek Bridge was under construction,
- a. Because there was a terrible storm,
b. Although there was a terrible storm,
- a. Because Steven skipped lunch, b. Although Steven skipped lunch,
- a. Since the park opens at 8:00 @-L ., b. Even though the park opens at 8:00 @-L .,
- a. Because this restaurant has a dress code,
b. Even though this restaurant has a dress code,
Possibilities and Alternatives
We use the conjunctions if, even if, unless, and until to suggest possibilities and alternatives. Each complex sentence formed with one of these conjunctions must contain two possibilities. These possibilities can be either positive or negative, but they must make sense together. Take a look at these examples:
Using if to suggest possibilities/alternatives POSITIVE (^) + POSITIVE If Brian changes his attitude, Wanda will date him. POSITIVE (^) + NEGATIVE If my memory fails, I cannot name all the U.S. presidents. NEGATIVE (^) + POSITIVE If the bus does not come, the kids will walk to school.
Most writers have no difficulty using the conjunction if. Just be sure that the two possibilities make sense together.
ACTIVITY 7
Complete each of the following pairs of complex sentences with a second possibil- ity that makes sense.
EXAMPLE:
a. If my computer crashes, I will buy a new one. b. If my computer does not crash, I will keep it for another year.
- a. If Kaylee gets the job, b. If Kaylee does not get the job,
- a. If we move to Denver, b. If we do not move to Denver,
- a. If it stops raining soon, b. If it does not stop raining soon,
- a. If we make cake for dessert, b. If we do not make cake for dessert,
- a. If I save money this summer, b. If I do not save money this summer,
FOUNDATION WORDS NOUNS VERBS DESCRIPTIVE WORDS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS CONNECTING WORDS PREPOSITIONS CONJUNCTIONS
Building Complex Sentences 361
