Grammar: Complex Sentences Flashcards

Which of the following is a correctly structured complex sentence?

Answer: Because the museum was offering free admission, the queue stretched around the block.

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Answer C is correct because 'Because the museum was offering free admission' is a dependent clause that cannot stand alone, and 'the queue stretched around the block' is an independent clause. A is a compound sentence. B is a run-on sentence missing a comma after the introductory clause. D incorrectly uses 'however' like a coordinating conjunction, creating a comma splice.

A student wants to combine these two ideas into a single complex sentence: 'The research was conducted over ten years. It produced some unexpected results.' Which option is the MOST effective and grammatically correct combination?

Answer: The research, which was conducted over ten years, produced some unexpected results.

This option correctly uses a relative clause ('which was conducted over ten years') to add extra information about the research, creating a sophisticated complex sentence. Option A creates a compound sentence, not a complex one. Option C is a comma splice error. Option D implies a cause-and-effect relationship that isn't present in the original sentences; the length of the research didn't necessarily cause the results to be unexpected.

Identify the subordinate (dependent) clause in the following sentence: 'We will postpone the outdoor event if the weather forecast predicts heavy rain.'

Answer: if the weather forecast predicts heavy rain

The subordinate, or dependent, clause is a part of the sentence that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete thought. In this case, 'if the weather forecast predicts heavy rain' begins with the subordinating conjunction 'if' and depends on the main clause to make sense.

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Answer: You should check the document for errors before you submit it.

The rule for punctuating complex sentences is that a comma is generally not used when the dependent clause follows the independent clause. In sentence C, the independent clause 'You should check the document for errors' comes first, followed by the dependent clause 'before you submit it', so no comma is needed. Sentences A and B are incorrect because they are missing a comma after the introductory dependent clause. Sentence D is incorrect because it uses both 'Although' and 'but', which is redundant.

Choose the most appropriate subordinating conjunction to complete the sentence: 'The new policy was implemented __________ there had been numerous complaints from the public.'

Answer: because

The sentence describes a cause-and-effect relationship. The 'numerous complaints' are the reason why 'the new policy was implemented'. The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a reason or cause. 'Although' and 'whereas' show contrast, and 'unless' introduces a condition, none of which fit the logic of the sentence.

An IELTS candidate wrote: 'While Internet usage has grown rapidly, however many people still prefer traditional media.' Which revision corrects the grammatical error to form a single, proper complex sentence?

Answer: While Internet usage has grown rapidly, many people still prefer traditional media.

The original sentence contains a redundant conjunction. 'While' is a subordinating conjunction that already establishes the contrast. Adding the conjunctive adverb 'however' is grammatically incorrect in this structure. The correct revision removes 'however' to properly form a complex sentence with an introductory dependent clause followed by an independent clause.