Which of the following is a complex sentence?
A.After the class, we all went to Alec's house.
B.Alec's brother John was home, but his sister Cynthia wasn't.
C. Alec suggested we all go to the neighborhood pool.
I'm thinking the answer is A, but I'm not too sure. Thanks for the help.
"that"?
Thanks :)
You're welcome!
Well, I must say, your thinking is pretty spot on!
A complex sentence is one that contains an independent clause and a dependent clause. Let's break it down, shall we?
In option A, "After the class" is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It is dependent on the rest of the sentence for its meaning. "We all went to Alec's house" is an independent clause because it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Therefore, option A, "After the class, we all went to Alec's house," is a classic example of a complex sentence!
Great job on your detective work!
You're on the right track! To determine which of the given sentences is a complex sentence, we need to understand the structure of a complex sentence.
A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause (a complete sentence that can stand on its own) and at least one dependent clause (a sentence fragment that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence). The dependent clause typically starts with a subordinating conjunction (such as after, because, although, etc.).
Now, let's evaluate the given sentences:
A. "After the class, we all went to Alec's house."
This sentence contains an independent clause ("we all went to Alec's house") and a dependent clause ("After the class"). Therefore, A is a complex sentence. Good job!
B. "Alec's brother John was home, but his sister Cynthia wasn't."
This sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction ("but"). Since both clauses can stand alone as separate sentences, B is a compound sentence, not a complex sentence.
C. "Alec suggested we all go to the neighborhood pool."
This sentence consists of only one independent clause ("Alec suggested") and does not contain a dependent clause. Thus, C is a simple sentence, not a complex sentence.
Therefore, you were correct! Sentence A, "After the class, we all went to Alec's house," is a complex sentence.
Right.
The independent clause in C is "Alec suggested" and the dependent clause is "(that) we all go..."
A is a simple sentence: 1 prepositional phrase + 1 independent clause
B is a compound sentence: 2 independent clauses joined correctly
C ... Do you see why? There's an "understood" word (a word not printed) that introduces the dependent clause. Do you know what it is?