Introduction

In the preceding unit we looked at the simple, one-clause, one-verb, sentence. Complex sentences are those that consist of two or more clauses, hence two or more verbs. This unit introduces you to the ways clauses can be combined in sentences.

Tasks

1 Clauses

A clause is a unit that contains, at the very least, a subject and a verb. This is the house is a clause, because this is the subject and is is the verb. … that Jack built is also a clause, with Jack as its subject and built as its verb.

Simple sentences (like this one) consist of one clause. But many sentences (like this one) comprise more than one clause and therefore have more than one verb. This is the house that Jack built is one such sentence (the verbs are underlined). So is Jack fell down and broke his crown. So is When Jacky’s a good boy, he shall have cakes and custard.

Clauses may be independent or dependent. An independent clause can stand on its own: Jack and Jill went up the hill. When two or more independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, like and, or, but, so, they form a compound sentence:

A dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause) cannot stand on its own: it depends on an independent clause (also called the main clause):

Clauses consisting of a main clause and one or more dependent clauses are called complex sentences. Decide if the following sentences (all from traditional nursery rhymes) are simple, compound or complex.

• a Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep. = simple

• b Leave them alone and they’ll come home.

• c There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

• d When the pie was opened the birds began to sing.

• e There was a little man and he had a little cow.

• f Old King Cole was a merry old soul.

• g When she was bad, she was horrid.

• h You used to come at ten o’clock but now you come at noon.

• i As I was going to St Ives I met a man with seven wives.

• j Doctor Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain.