English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE for CBE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structure ham

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Compound and ComplexSentence Structures

Introduction to Academic English

(Alamy, n.d.)

English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

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Three Types of Sentences

1. Simple (1 subject + 1 verb)

I enjoy swimming.

2. Compound (2 subjects + 2 verbs)

I enjoy swimming, but I do not enjoy running.

3. Complex (2 subjects + 2 verbs)

While I enjoy swimming, I do not enjoy running.

Two Types of Clauses

1. Independent (can stand alone):

I enjoy swimming. I do not enjoy running.

2. Dependent (cannot stand alone): While I enjoy swimming, … Because I do not enjoy running, …

subject

subject

verb

verb

subject verb

subject verb

subject verb

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

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Compound Sentences

These sentences join two independent clauses (clauses that can stand on their own).

Independent clauses can be joined with acoordinating conjunction:

I enjoy swimming, but I do not enjoy running.

(FANBOYS)

Three Ways to Join Compound Sentences

1. Comma + Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS word):

I enjoy swimming, but I do not enjoy running.

2. Semicolon (does NOT work with clauses that can be joined by ‘or’)

I enjoy swimming; I do not enjoy running.

3. Semicolon + Linking Word + Comma

I enjoy swimming; however, I do not enjoy running.

for yetand butnor soor

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

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Creating Compound Sentences Join the independent clauses below to create compound sentences in three different ways.

1. The UAE is located in the Persian Gulf.The UAE is made up of seven emirates.

a) (comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS))

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b) (semicolon)

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c) (semicolon + linking word + comma)

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2. Dubai is home to the Burj Khalifa. The Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi.

a) (comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS))

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b) (semicolon)

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c) (semicolon + linking word + comma)

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3. We could visit Sri Lanka for our holiday.We could go to India for our holiday.

a) (comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS))

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b) (semicolon)

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c) (semicolon + linking word + comma)

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

Name: ............................................................................................................... Section

Number: ...............................................................................................................

Compound Sentences

These sentences are made with both and independent clauses (clauses that can stand on their own) and dependent clauses (clauses that cannot stand on their own).

These clauses can be joined with a subordinating conjunction:

Although I was very tired, I went to the party.

I went to the party although I was very tired.

subordinating conjunction

subordinating conjunction

dependent clause

independent clause

independent clause

dependent clause

Look at the punctuation in both

sentences.When do you need a

comma?

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

Name: ............................................................................................................... Section

Number: ...............................................................................................................

Subordinating Conjunctions Used in Complex Sentence Structures

Adverb Clauses Adjective Clauses Noun Clauses

TimeReason / Result

Opposition / Contrast(comes after noun it

describes)(does the job of a noun:

“something”)

after because although who that

before since even though which what

when as despite the fact that that when

while so that while whose where

as soon as Condition whereas whom how

since if where who

unless when whether

English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE for CBE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structure

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

Name: ............................................................................................................... Section

Number: ...............................................................................................................

Adverb and Adjective Clauses: Practice Fill in the gaps with words from the word box (two will not be used).

The UAE is a country (1) ____________________ consists of seven emirates and

has been a federation (2) ____________________ 1971. Oil was discovered in 1958,

and (3) ____________________ that, in 1962, the first cargo of crude oil was exported

from Abu Dhabi. (4) ____________________ oil revenues started to increase, the ruler

of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, arranged the building of schools,

housing, hospitals and roads. Dubai's oil exports began in 1969. Sheikh Rashid bin

Saeed Al Maktoum, (5) ____________________ was the ruler of Dubai at the time, was

also able to use oil revenues to improve his people's quality of life.

(6) ____________________ it is very young, the UAE has developed into a very

modern, oil exporting country. (7) ____________________ it has a highly diversified

economy, it has become a global hub for tourism, retail, and finance.

(8) ____________________ it continues to develop and grow, it will continue to secure

its position as a major international player.

after because before even though if since unless when which who

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

Name: ............................................................................................................... Section

Number: ...............................................................................................................

Writing Practice

Combine the sentences below to create a paragraph on plagiarism. Create complex sentences whenever you can. You may join more than two sentences together.

• Definition of ‘Plagiarism’: to use another person’s ideas or visuals without telling the reader where the ideas or visuals came from.

• Plagiarism is a big problem.

• Plagiarism has increased over the years since the invention of the Internet.

• The Internet has made information readily available and easy to copy.

• Plagiarism is not honest.

• Plagiarism is not acceptable.

• Plagiarism is not clever.

• Instead of copying without giving credit, use referencing and paraphrasing.

• Referencing and paraphrasing are professional and acceptable ways to share others’ ideas.

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English for Academic Purposes – T. Graham

IAE – Compound and Complex Sentence Structures ham

Name: ............................................................................................................... Section

Number: ...............................................................................................................

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