20 Compound-Complex Sentence Examples for High School Writing

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔗 A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
• 🧩 An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence (it has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought).
• зависимость A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence; it needs an independent clause to complete its meaning (often starts with words like 'because,' 'although,' 'when,' 'if').
• ➕ Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join independent clauses.
• 📉 Subordinating conjunctions (e.g., because, although, if, when, since) introduce dependent clauses.
• ✍️ Relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that) also introduce dependent clauses.
• 💡 Commas are used to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses and to separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

✍️ Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the BEST definition of a compound-complex sentence?
   1. A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause.
   2. A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
   3. A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
   4. A sentence with only dependent clauses.
2. Identify the compound-complex sentence:
   1. Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
   2. We stayed inside and watched a movie.
   3. Because it was raining, we stayed inside, and we watched a movie.
   4. Staying inside was a good idea.
3. Which word is NOT typically used to start a dependent clause?
   1. Because
   2. And
   3. Although
   4. When
4. In the following sentence, identify the dependent clause: "Although I studied hard, I failed the test, but I learned a lot."
   1. I failed the test
   2. I learned a lot
   3. Although I studied hard
   4. I studied hard
5. Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas in a compound-complex sentence.
   1. Because I was tired I went to bed, and I fell asleep immediately.
   2. Because I was tired, I went to bed and I fell asleep immediately.
   3. Because I was tired, I went to bed, and I fell asleep immediately.
   4. Because I was tired I went to bed and I fell asleep immediately.
6. Which of the following sentences is NOT a compound-complex sentence?
   1. Although he was late, he still managed to catch the train, and he arrived on time.
   2. He was late, but he still managed to catch the train.
   3. Because she practiced every day, she improved her skills, and she won the competition.
   4. If you want to succeed, you must work hard, and you must never give up.
7. What is the function of a coordinating conjunction in a compound-complex sentence?
   1. To introduce a dependent clause.
   2. To connect two or more independent clauses.
   3. To subordinate one clause to another.
   4. To indicate a time relationship between clauses.