Sentences are at the core of any language. We all speak them, but we might not know exactly how to label them. One of the most complex (if you will) sentence structures is the compound-complex sentence. Understanding what this type of sentence structure looks like will give you a firmer command of your writing. But first things first, what is compound-complex sentence structure?
What is Compound Complex Sentence Structure
Let's start with a definition
As its title might suggest, the compound-complex sentence structure incorporates elements of a compound sentence and a complex sentence. But what exactly is the compound-complex sentence definition?
COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE DEFINITION
What is Compound Complex Sentence Structure?
A compound-complex sentence is a sentence containing one or more dependent clauses and two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon. An independent clause comprises a subject and verb and is a complete thought. A dependent clause is an incomplete thought that would not be a full sentence on its own (it’s also referred to as a subordinate clause).
To really understand the mechanics of a compound/complex sentence structure, one has to understand independent clauses and dependent clauses.
Sentence Structures
Types of sentence structures
Of course, not all sentences are compound, complex or a combination of the two. Let’s look at what differentiates compound-complex sentences from other sentence structures.
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains only a single independent clause. These include a subject, verb, and express a complete thought. For example:
- The movie was a bore.
- She felt fine.
- The hunter snuck up on the deer.
- She couldn’t believe the news.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence structure is two or more independent clauses joined together, either with a conjunction or semicolon. In other words, a compound sentence is a couple simple sentences combined.
An example: “Susan went to the grocer’s and Dinesh made a stop at the liquor store.”
We could split this compound sentence into two simple sentences: “Susan went to the grocer’s. Dinesh made a stop at the liquor store.”
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence also builds off a simple sentence, but instead of adding another simple sentence with a conjunction, it adds a dependent clause.
A dependent clause uses a subordinating conjunction (e.g., after, because, when) and includes a subject and verb, but doesn’t express a complete idea.
Take the complex sentence, “Because Su-Ho was out with an ACL tear, her soccer team was soundly defeated in the championship.”
“Her soccer team was soundly defeated in the championship” is a complete simple sentence. But while “because Su-Ho was out with an ACL tear” has a subject and verb, it doesn’t complete its thought.
It wouldn’t work as its own sentence.
A compound-complex sentence is an amalgamation of these clauses. Now you know how to write a compound-complex sentence, but let’s take a closer look through some compound-complex sentence examples.
Compound Complex Sentence Examples
How to write a compound-complex sentence
It’s easiest to understand “What is compound complex sentence structure?” once you’ve seen some examples. Compound-complex sentence structures often result in longer and more involved sentences. Here’s a few:
- Even though Barry was in love with her, he was unable to express himself; it was no surprise she left him.
- I was grounded because I was framed for the gerbil’s death, and there was nothing I could do but attempt to clear my name.
- When Jill came to town, we all celebrated, for we knew she would be the life of the party.
- I was shocked to hear the cactus yelling expletives at me, since it was an inanimate object, but I found myself yelling back at it, engaged in a lively debate.
It’s helpful to dissect these sentences into independent clauses and dependent clauses in order to understand why they’re compound-complex.
- Even though Barry was in love with her, he was unable to express himself; it was no surprise she left him.
- I was grounded because I was framed for the gerbil’s death, and there was nothing I could do but attempt to clear my name.
- When Jill came to town, we all celebrated, for we knew she would be the life of the party.
- I was shocked to hear the cactus yelling expletives at me, since it was an inanimate object, but I found myself yelling back at it, engaged in a lively debate.
Note how the independent clauses could be their own sentences, while the dependent clauses could not. As you can see, there’s no simple compound-complex sentence formula.
How to Use a compound-complex sentence
Examples in the arts
There are compound-complex sentence examples in books, film, music, and so on. See if you can spot the independent and dependent clauses in this compound-complex sentence examples list:
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” – J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
“We sit here stranded, though we're all doing our best to deny it, and Louise holds a handful of rain, tempting you to defy it.” - Bob Dylan, “Visions of Johanna”
“When I went to the hospital her nose was broken, her jaw was shattered and held together by wire, and she could not even weep because of the pain.” – Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather
“More than any other idea, it is helping to do away with the wrong and foolish; more than any other idea, it is building and sustaining new life.” – Emma Goldman, Anarchism
Up Next
What are Sentence Structures?
Now that you’ve answered the age-old question of “What is compound complex sentence structure?”, the other three will feel like a breeze. Check out our summary of the different types of sentence structures.
