Key considerations

Understanding and constructing complex sentences often pose a major challenge to learners whose first language is not closely related to English. We can help these learners by systematically paying attention to complex sentence construction, feature by feature, over a considerable period of time. We can also exploit any texts that they read, identifying complex sentences and explaining how these are constructed and what they mean, or guiding learners to work this out for themselves.

Learners whose first languages are closely related to English (i.e. most European languages) generally have far less difficulty with complex sentences. They may still, however, have problems of comprehension when sentences are particularly long or tightly constructed. They may also avoid using features of complex sentences, or may avoid using them in natural combinations.

The Consolidation exercises for this chapter explore in detail difficulties which arise when we combine multiple elements of complex sentences.

What are complex sentences?

Complex sentences contain two or more clauses. One of these is a main clause, which is finite and can stand on its own. The other clause or clauses are subordinate to this or in some way dependent on it. Chapter 20 looks at the structure of main clauses in detail, and Chapters 25–29 look at types of subordinate clause.

What makes them difficult for learners?

Multiple clauses

In practice, many sentences contain a combination of different kinds of clause. Learners who can understand and use complex sentences containing one subordinate clause may have more difficulty when two or more subordinate clauses or types of subordinate clause are used together.

Embedding

At its most straightforward, embedding refers to phrases slipped into the middle of clauses either in apposition (restating) or in parenthesis (less important supporting information).

Embedding can also involve using clauses within clauses. In the following, the relative clause is embedded within the main clause. Although this embedding is relatively simple, we may already need to slow down a little to work out who or what went bankrupt.