Lesson 293

Parts of the Sentence - Compound & Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clauseA clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.
Source: Lesson 246 and a dependent clauseA clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. A dependent clause must be attached to the independent clause to make sense. It is always used as some part of speech. A dependent clause can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. Source: Lesson 246.

A compound sentence combines two or more independent clauses. Commas separate the clauses of a compound sentence. (A short sentence joined by and is sometimes combined without a comma.) A semicolon can take the place of the conjunctionA conjunction is a word that joins other words, phrases (groups of words), or clauses (groups of words with a subjects and verb). Source: Lesson 76 and comma. Only clauses closely related in thought should be joined to make a compound sentence.

Instructions: The following sentences are made up of two independent clauses with one or more dependent clauses. You are to identify the clauses telling what kind each is. The choices are independent clause, noun clauseA noun clause is a dependent clause that can be used in the same way as a noun or pronoun. It can be a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition. Some of the words that introduce noun clause are that, whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. Source: Lesson 275, adjective clauseThe adjective clause is a dependent clause that is used to modify a noun or a pronoun. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when and where). Those are the only words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause.
Source: Lesson 255, or adverb clauseThe adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. They usually modify the verb. Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunction including after, although, as, as if, before, because, if, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, and while. Source: Lesson 265.

1. We enlarged our house, and after we had finished the work, we moved to Hawaii and never returned.

We enlarged our houseindependent clause, and
after we had finished the workadverb clause,

we moved to Hawaii and never returnedindependent clause.

2. The vacation should be restful, but many people take vacations that are never restful.

The vacation should be restfulindependent clause,
but many people take vacationsindependent clause

that are the never restfuladjective clause.

3. James said that will be enough, and everyone agreed.

James saidindependent clause that will be enoughnoun clause,
and everyone agreedindependent clause.

4. Dad went fishing, but Mom stayed home because she wanted to be there when Terri arrived.

Dad went fishingindependent clause, but
Mom stayed homeindependent clause

because she wanted to be thereadverb clause

when Terri arrivedadverb clause.

5. Although the children were running everywhere, closer observation indicated that they were playing a game, and they had created it themselves.

Although the children were running everywhereadverb clause,

closer observation indicatedindependent clause

that they were playing a gamenoun clause,

and they had created it themselvesindependent clause.