COMPLEX SENTENCE

This is material from Yuh Sinau (Advised by Miss Eny)

How do I make a complex sentence?
Remember that a complex sentence is just more than one simple sentence put together to make one sentence. We, therefore, need to learn and become confident using the various grammatical structures that allow us to do that. Below are a few ways we can link ideas together in a sentence.

To make a complex sentence we normally should have two things:

1. a dependent clause
   example: "because the weather was cold". (This is a dependent clause because it has a subject and a verb but it doesn’t make any sense on its own. To make sense we need to add an independent clause). 
2. an independent clause
   example: "I wore a warm coat." (This is an independent because it can make sense on its own).

The complex sentence: I wore a warm coat because the weather was cold

Note: ‘complex’ sentences don’t have to be complicated.

😉OTHER WAYS TO MAKE COMPLEX SENTENCES

1. Relative Clauses
You can use relative clauses to give essential or extra information about a person, place, or thing. This makes our writing more fluent and more coherent. We do this by using relative pronouns like who, which and that. Example: ‘He’s the kind of person who is always friendly.’

For example:

• Air pollution can cause health problems. Air pollution is largely caused by motor vehicles.
  - complex sentences: Air pollution, which is mostly caused by motor vehicles, can cause health problems.
• There is evidence that some people are more likely to smoke. These people have parents and friends who smoke.
  - complex sentences: There is evidence that people who have parents and friends that smoke are more likely to smoke.

2. Subordinate Clauses

It can describe nouns and pronouns; verbs, adverbs, and adjectives; or act as the subject or object of another clause. They are made by connecting an independent clause with a dependent clause with words like as, because, while, until, even though, although, when and if.

3. Conditional Clauses

Also known as ‘If clauses’, they are used to express that the action in the main clause can only take place if a certain condition is met.

For example:

• If I had a million dollars, I would quit my job.
• I will be really happy if I pass the IELTS test.

Note: Zero Conditionals are used to talk about information that is true or facts. We can use if or when to introduce the conditional.

Example: Nowadays when we travel long distances, we usually use air travel.

• Talk about things in the present or future.
  ex: If the city’s population continues to grow, we will need to build more infrastructure.
• Talk about things that are impossible.ex: If the sun didn’t come up tomorrow, we wouldn’t have any life on earth.
• To speculate about past events (often used when we regret something or to imagine a past unreal situation)
  ex: The Second World War would have never happened if Germany had been given a fairer peace settlement in Word War One.

4. Compound Sentences

They are consist of two independent clauses linked together with a conjunction such as ‘and’, ‘for’ or ‘but’.

Examples:

• I really want to study, but I’m too tired.
• She got to the test centre early, and she did really well on her IELTS test.
  
  Some students think these sentences are TOO SIMPLE to count as complex but they are WRONG!!

WARNING!!!

The crucial thing is to understand and be able to use these grammar structures before your IELTS test. Some students memorize lots of structures and try to insert them into their essays without giving much thought to how they work or if they are accurate. This will only lead to unnatural and incoherent sentences. Remember that your sentences need to also be error free so only use structures you are confident using.

They KEY is to only use them appropriately. Concentrate on answering the question and if you know how to use these structures they will flow naturally.

REMEMBER:

When you are practicing IELTS writing questions try to think of what you want to say in simple sentences and then think of how these might be linked into complex sentences. After enough practice it will become a natural thing to do and your writing will really improve.