Complex sentences
A complex sentence consists out of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. This post explores the different types of complex sentences and provides examples.
Types
- -ing participle clauses
- -ed participle clauses
- Relative clauses
- Cleft sentences
- Linking words
- Conditionals
-ing participle clauses
- Being the younger sibling, I've always looked up to my older brother.
- Having had no car, I led quite an active life.
-ed participle clauses
- Filled with anger, Joe punched a hole through the wall.
- Immersed in water, the letter began to sink.
- The letter, immersed in water, began to sink.
Relative clauses
Who (people), which (things/situations), when (time), where (locations), whose (possessive).
- Amy, who was the main teacher at that time, slammed the chalkboard hard.
- The letter, which was immersed in water, began to sink.
- Lake Moi, where we used to go as kids, has turned into a small stream after the impact of the earth quack.
- Mildred, whose water broke, was rushed to the hospital.
- At midnight, when everyone is asleep, I'll try to fetch a second cake slice.
Cleft sentences
- It was South Africa that hosted the soccer world cup in 2011.
- It was in 1994 that/when apartheid was over in South Africa.
- What I enjoyed the most was the peaceful walk to the windmill.
Linking words
Linking devices for IELTS writing task 1 and 2
A list of linking devices that can be used to improve one’s cohesion score for tasks 1 and 2 IELTS general training writing.
Conditionals
Conditionals
Conditionals have if-then structures. Their tenses and thus types depend on how possible a condition is.
Resources