A complex sentence must have a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The subordinate clause may be a noun clause, an adjective clause or an adverb clause.
We can form a complex sentence by combining two simple sentences using a subordinating conjunction like when, as, since, till, where, if, though, unless, that, lest, weather, whereas etc.
Study the following sentences.
- I went there. The door was locked.
- When I went there the door was locked.
- We got little rain this year. The crops have dried up.
- As we got little rain this year, the crops have dried up.
- He has expressed his regret. We will forget about it.
- Since he has expressed his regret, we will forget about it.
Exercise
Combine the pairs of sentences given below using a subordinating conjunction.
1. You finish dressing. I will wait here.
2. There is heavy rainfall there. Grapes will not grow at such a place.
3. It may rain. Then the match will be cancelled.
4. He is not educated. He has practical knowledge.
5. I sank into the water. I felt great confusion of thought.
Answers
1. I will wait here until you finish dressing.
2. Grapes will not grow where there is heavy rainfall.
3. If it rains, the match will be cancelled.
4. Though he is not educated, he has practical knowledge.
5. When I sank into the water, I felt great confusion of thought.