What is a compound a complex and a compound conplex sentence

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. In simple terms, an independent clause can be a sentence on its own while a dependent clause cannot.

Compound-complex sentences help us express longer more complicated thoughts, with more parts than other sentences. They’re good tools for explaining complicated ideas or describing long chains of events.

Example 1

Kate doesn’t like cartoons because they are loud, so she doesn’t watch them.

This sentence has two independent clauses and one dependent clause. The dependent clause “because they are loud” cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence; it is dependent. As you’ve probably figured out, the independent clauses “Kate doesn’t like cartoons” and “she doesn’t watch them” can be complete sentences on their own.

Example 2

The dog started barking so the cat ran away and I couldn’t keep up, so I stopped.

Now we’re dealing with more clauses, but they still follow the same rules. The independent clauses are complete sentences, while the dependent clause cannot stand on its own.

Both of these examples contain little words called conjunctions that link up the clauses. Read on to the next section to find out more about conjunctions and the other parts of a compound-complex sentence.