"The compound-complex sentence is
so named because it shares the characteristics of both compound and complex
sentences. Like the compound sentence, the
compound-complex has two main clauses. Like the complex sentence, it has at
least one subordinate clause. The
subordinate clause can be part of an independent clause."
(Random House Webster's Pocket Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, 2007)
(Random House Webster's Pocket Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, 2007)
"The door of the morning room was open
as I went through the hall, and I caught a glimpse of Uncle Tom messing about
with his collection of old silver."
(P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters, 1938)
(P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters, 1938)
"All of us are egotists to some extent,
but most of us--unlike the jerk--are perfectly and horribly aware of it when we
make asses of ourselves."
(Sidney J. Harris, "A Jerk," 1961)
(Sidney J. Harris, "A Jerk," 1961)
"Those are my principles, and if you
don't like them . . . well, I have others."
(Groucho Marx)
(Groucho Marx)
"The Druids used mistletoe in ceremonies
of human sacrifice, but most of all the evergreen became a symbol of fertility
because it flourished in winter when other plants withered."
(Sian Ellis, "England's Ancient 'Special Twig.'" British Heritage, January 2001)
(Sian Ellis, "England's Ancient 'Special Twig.'" British Heritage, January 2001)
"For in the end, freedom is a personal
and lonely battle; and one faces down fears of today so that those of tomorrow
might be engaged."
(Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, 1983)
(Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, 1983)
"We operate under a jury system in this country, and as much as we
complain about it, we have to admit that we know of no better system, except
possibly flipping a coin."
(Dave Barry, Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage And/or Sex, 1987)
(Dave Barry, Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage And/or Sex, 1987)
The
Compound-Complex Sentence
A
compound-complex sentence is made up of a compound sentence and a complex
sentence. I would say these guys are properly named, wouldn't you?
- The compound part of the equation means that the sentence has two (or more) independent clauses.
- The complex part of the equation means that the sentence has at least one subordinate clause.
If
you need a refresher on compound sentences or complex sentences, click on
the links and check them out.
Let's analyze an example sentence and see if it has what it takes!
Let's analyze an example sentence and see if it has what it takes!
I would have purchased the cheese that you
like,
but it was too expensive.
I would have purchased the cheese = independent clause
that you like = dependent adjective clause modifying cheese
it was too expensive = independent clause
that you like = dependent adjective clause modifying cheese
it was too expensive = independent clause
Compound-Complex Sentence That
Includes A Dependent Adjective Clause
Includes A Dependent Adjective Clause
I would have purchased the cheese that you
like,
but it was too expensive.
You're already a pro at
this sentence because we checked it out at the top of the page, but I want to
show you how to diagram it.
If you're new to sentence diagramming, the following picture is probably going to look overwhelming and scary. Try not to bite your fingernails as you look at it.
Sentence diagrams can help you understand sentence structure, and if you learn with either of my beginner step-by-step programs, you'll be a pro with this kind of diagram.
If you're new to sentence diagramming, the following picture is probably going to look overwhelming and scary. Try not to bite your fingernails as you look at it.
Sentence diagrams can help you understand sentence structure, and if you learn with either of my beginner step-by-step programs, you'll be a pro with this kind of diagram.

That
you like is a dependent adjective clause modifying the the direct object of the
independent clause (cheese).
Here's a similar sentence diagram that shows you the basic parts of that sentence.
Here's a similar sentence diagram that shows you the basic parts of that sentence.

Compound-Complex Sentence That
Includes A Dependent Noun Clause
Includes A Dependent Noun Clause
Rachael Ray explained how cookies are made,
and we practiced her techniques at home.
Dependent noun clauses are
kind of complicated. Because they function as nouns and can do any of the noun
jobs, they are often an integral part of independent clauses.
That's the case with this example. The dependent noun clause is the direct object of the verb explained.
That's the case with this example. The dependent noun clause is the direct object of the verb explained.
Rachael Ray explained (how cookies are made) = independent clause
how cookies are made = dependent noun clause
we practiced her techniques at home = independent clause
how cookies are made = dependent noun clause
we practiced her techniques at home = independent clause

Here's
a similar sentence diagram that shows you the basic parts of that
sentence.

Compound-Complex Sentence That
Includes A Dependent Adverb Clause
Includes A Dependent Adverb Clause
We had a party because we had lots of
cookies,
and our guests ate the yummy treats.
We had a party = independent clause
because we had lots of cookies = dependent adverb clause modifying had
our guests ate the yummy treats = independent clause
because we had lots of cookies = dependent adverb clause modifying had
our guests ate the yummy treats = independent clause

Here's
a similar sentence diagram that shows you the basic parts of that sentence.
