Complex English Syntax

Why incorporate Complex Sentences Into writing

To win the hearts and minds of the audience, great writers apply a wide variety of sentence types. While simple sentences have a place in writing, complex sentences modify the content and hold the attention of the audience. A sentence contains a complete thought. Thus, a complex sentence contains a complex thought. In addition, all complex sentences contain at least one subordinate clause. well-written and well-placed subordinate clauses within a complex sentence transform the boring words into mind-expanding thoughts that compel the audience to read on and on. If, for example, the author begins a sentence with a subordinate clause, the reader will be expecting a main clause to complete the sentence. This expectation will cause the readers to pause and absorb the meaning of the subordinate clause before they read the main clause. This explains the rule to add a comma between a subordinate clause and an independent clause. Since complete sentences create complete thoughts, complex sentences create complex thoughts.

In this course, students will examine the complex sentences and the various types of subordinate clauses that transform a simple piece of writing into a more engaging work of art that the readers will find easy and enjoyable to read.

Objectives

Recognize and identify the various types of subordinate clauses that form a complex sentence.
Develop complex sentences with various types of subordinate clauses,
Write a coherent, engaging narrative between 400 to 600 words using only complex sentences

Part I: Read The Following Lessons

Subject Predicate Pair

Verb Conjugation and Verb Infinitive

Pronouns

Prepositional Phrases

Adverbial Clause

Adjective Clause

Noun Clause

Part II: Take Quizzes on Complex English Syntax

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Video streaming technology has proven beneficial in bridging the distance gap for language learners who require face-to-face communication

Thus necessity, like a gravitating power, would soon form our newly arrived emigrants into society, the reciprocal blessings of which would supercede, and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary while they remained perfectly just to each other;

Part III: Write Your Draft

In this assessment, the students will apply their knowledge and skills using complex sentences to create a unique narrative that flows well and catches the attention of the audience. This narrative may be fictional or autobiographical, depending on the the students’ choice. Only complex sentences should be used in the development of this story. These complex sentences should contain a variety of different subordinate clauses nested within. for example, a sentence may begin with an adverbial clause whose elements are further modified with adjective clauses and whose verbs require noun clauses as their object.

Expected Outcomes:

Write a short coherent narrative between 50 to 300 words using only complex sentences. For example:

While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen. Since I realized that messing with a mama bear and her cubs is one of the most dangerous acts that anyone could do, I turned around and headed back to the car, which I left parked about a half a mile away. When I got to my car, I climbed in, locked the doors and started the engine. I glanced back at the mamma bear who was walking away with her two cute, little cubs.

Take this quiz on the subordinate sentences in the above example passage

- 11
  
  Yellowstone Story
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen. Since I realized that messing with a mama bear and her cubs is one of the most dangerous acts that anyone could do, I turned around and headed back to the car, which I left parked about a half a mile away. When I got to my car, I climbed in, locked the doors and started the engine. I glanced back at the mamma bear who was walking away with her two cute, little cubs.
  
  The subject/predicae pair in the subordinate clause is - I was visiting
  
  What does it modify in the main clause?
  
  1 / 6
  
  1. What is the best explanation of this phrase in the first sentence?
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer,...
  
  A. An adverbial clause that modifies the verb in the main clause.
  
  B. The clause is the main clause of the sentence
  
  C. A subordinate clause
  
  D. A clause is an adjective clause that modifies Yellowstone Park
  
  Since it does not have a separate subject/predicate pair, it is not a clause.
  
  The adverbial clause modifies the verb - saw.
  
  The main clause is: I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen.
  
  The verb is the main part of the predicate. It must be conjugated
  
  2 / 6
  
  2. What is the action verb of the main clause of the first sentence?
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen.
  
  A. cubs
  
  B. saw
  
  C. I
  
  D. a mama bear
  
  Saw is the action of the main clause.
  
  The subject is the actor. Subject/Predicate Pair
  
  3 / 6
  
  3. What is the subject of the main clause of the first sentence?
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen.
  
  A. Yellowstone
  
  B. bears
  
  C. summer
  
  D. I
  
  The subject pronoun, I is the actor of the action - saw.
  
  The main clause is: I saw a mama bear. What is the actor? Subject/Predicate Pair
  
  Only conjugated verbs can form a subject/predicate pair.
  
  Subject Predicate Pair
  
  Verb Conjugation and Verb Infinitive
  
  4 / 6
  
  4. How many subject/predicate pairs are in the first sentence?
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen.
  
  A. 1
  
  B. 4
  
  C. 3
  
  D. 2
  
  There are four:
  
  I was visiting
  
  I/saw
  
  cubs/were
  
  I/have ever sceen
  
  Subject Predicate Pair
  
  Verb Conjugation and Verb Infinitive
  
  whose cubs were they?
  
  5 / 6
  
  5. What does this clause modify?
  
  whose cubs were the cutest things
  
  A. visiting
  
  B. summer
  
  C. Yellowstone
  
  D. mama bear
  
  The clause - whose cubs were the cutest things - is an adjective clause that modifies or adds content to the object - mama bear.
  
  A relative pronoun must have an expressed or implied antecedent that the pronoun replaces. Relative pronouns join adjective clauses to other clauses.
  
  6 / 6
  
  6. Identify the relative pronouns in the first sentence.
  
  While I was visiting Yellowstone Park last summer, I saw a mama bear whose cubs were the cutest things that I have ever seen.
  
  A. were
  
  B. things
  
  C. that
  
  D. whose
  
  E. while
  
  Whose is the relative pronoun that modifies mama bear. It's antecedent is - mama bear. That is a relative pronoun that modifies - things. It's antecedent is - things.
  
  Your score is
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Use a variety of subordinate clauses in the sentences.

Write a short explanation of the subordinate clauses in paragraph you wrote. for example:

The first sentence begins with an adverbial clause and two adjective clauses nested in the main clause. The second sentence begins with an adverbial clause with a noun clause as the object of the verb of the adverbial clause and an adjective modifying the object of the verb in the noun clause. Then the main clause of the sentence ends with an adjective clause. Thus, those two sentences contain in total of seven subordinate clauses.

ensure that there are no grammar or spelling errors in the text.

This is not a timed assessment. therefore, the students are encouraged to write several drafts with several revisions before submitting the final draft. This assessment will be graded with a rubric.

Part IV: Submit for review

Criteria and Weight	Creative 90% – 100% A- to A	Amateur 70% – 89% C- to B+	Awkward and Simple 50% – 69% F to D+	Incomplete 0% F
1. Write a coherent, flowing narrative between 50 to 600 words using only complex sentences: 40%	The Story was engaging with a nice flow using only complex sentences. Met word count.	Most sentences were complex sentences, and the story made sense with a close reading. Met word count.	Some complex sentences were used, but the sentences did not flow into each other to create a coherent narrative. Met word count.	The assignment was incomplete. Did not meet minimum word count.
2. Use a variety of subordinate clauses in the sentences: 40%	A variety of adverbial clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses were nested within each other to creatively used to bring the narrative to life.	Most of the complex sentences in the story contained a variety of subordinate clauses working together to bring the narrative to life	The complex sentences used in the story did not contain a variety of nested subordinate clauses.	The assignment was incomplete. Did not use subordinate a variety of subordinate clauses
3. ensure that there are no grammar or spelling errors in the text: 20%	No grammar or spelling errors in the text.	Few grammar or spelling errors in the text, but those errors did not significantly disrupt the flow of the narrative.	Many grammar or spelling errors in the text that distracted the reader from appreciating the narrative	The assignment was incomplete.

Part V: review Video Feedback