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Subject - Verb - Object constructions (I watch television.)
Subject - Verb - Compliment constructions (I will come at 5.30.)
Subject - Verb – Object - Complement constructions (I watch television at 5.30.) and
Subject (Intransitive) Verb constructions (I slept.)
Can be defined as simple sentences as they usually feature (have) a noun and a verb. In longer complex sentences these form part of the whole sentence and are called clauses. To connect two simple sentences to make a complex sentence we can use conjunctions:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
(They can be remembered because the first letters spell ‘fanboys’)
Example:
I like reading. I like playing guitar.
becomes
I like reading and I like playing guitar.
This is an easy example and there are some more rules to making good complex sentences in English. You should try not to:
Repeat words – in the first example we really don’t need to say ‘I like’ twice.
Example:
I like reading and I like playing guitar.
It would be better to say:
I like reading and playing guitar.
Keep a ‘parallel’ – Try to keep you Dan went to the leisure centre. The leisure centre was closed when Dan arrived.
These two sentences are far too long and awkward; by using a conjunction and some pronouns we can make a complex, natural sounding and efficient sentence:
Dan went to the leisure centre but it was closed when he arrived.
Task 1
Look in your dictionary for the definition of each conjunction and write an example of a complex sentence for each one.
Task 2
Put the correct conjunction in to the missing spaces
1. I don’t like milk I love yoghurt.
2. Do you want to go to the cinema would you prefer to go to the beach?
3. I need to go home finish my work.
4. I’m going bed I feel tired.
5. James hasn’t seen his sister his friends.
6. I feel tired I’m going to bed.
7. She is a good woman I don’t trust her.
Alternatively we can use connectors, these words can be used to list, summarise, show a result, restate, reinforce, order, replace or contrast:
List – these can be used when we talk about a list of things:
first, furthermore, finally, one, too, three… first, firstly, second, secondly, third, thirdly,
to begin with, in the second place, moreover, and to conclude, next, then, afterward, lastly,
finally
Summarise – to talk about what was mentioned before:
in conclusion, and to conclude, to sum up briefly, in brief, to summarise, altogether,
overall, then, therefore, thus.
Show a Result – to show the result of what was mentioned before:
so, therefore, as a result, as a consequence, the result is, the consequence is, accordingly,
consequently, now, then, because of this, because of that, thus, hence, for this reason,
for that reason
Restate – to repeat what was said in another way:
then, in other words, in that case, else, otherwise, if so, if not, that implies, my conclusion is,
better, rather, to put it simply, to put it more simply, again, alternatively, rather, better…
worse… better still… worse still… on the other hand, the alternative is…another possibility
would be
Reinforce – to give strength to what we say:
also, again, but the more, and there, moreover, what is more, the end, in addition, besides,
above all, as well as, equally, likewise, similarly, correspondingly, in the same way
Order – to move to a new idea:
now, with reference to, with respect to, with regard to, regarding, let us now turn to, let us turn
to, as for, as to
Contrast – to show a difference:
instead, conversely, the end, on the contrary, by contrast, by way of contrast, in comparison, on the one hand… on the other hand…
Task 3
Rewrite these simple sentences to make complex sentences.
His name is Chris. He is a famous professional musician. He plays bass guitar.
He lives in a small house. The house is big enough for him.
Sometimes he travels around the country. He plays concerts all over Europe. He travels with the rest of his group.
He usually practices playing guitar. Very often he has late nights.
He is very talented. Many people come to his concerts. He has sold a lot of CDs.
In his home town he has a studio. The studio is close to his house. His studio has a lot of equipment inside.
The equipment is old. Chris needs to buy new equipment.
When his band practice in his studio, it sounds awful. His band has to buy new equipment.
They can’t afford to buy this equipment. They enjoy playing in Chris’s studio.
Task 4
Write about someone you know (a friend, family or a famous person) using complex sentences. Try to list, summarise, show a result, restate, reinforce, order, replace and contrast.
