41+ Compound Complex Sentence Examples: What, How,When,Where To Use,Structure,Several Facts

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In this article, we will learn about compound complex sentences. We will be getting to know how, when and where the compound complex sentences are used. With the list of compound complex sentence examples we will understand their structure as well.

A compound complex sentence is the one that must have at least two main clauses (independent clauses) connected by a coordinating conjunction and at least one subordinate clause (dependent clause) connected by a subordinating conjunction. In all, a compound complex sentence must have at least three clauses.

Go through the following 41+ examples of compound complex sentence to get a better idea.

Compound Complex Sentences examples with detailed explanations

Now we shall look into each example and analyze them in detail.

1. Till he completes his college, he will live in India, but later he will go abroad.

Main Clause: He will live in India

Main Clause: Later he will go abroad

Subordinate Clause: Till he completes his college

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Till

2. Kate was sitting on the bed, while she was studying in her room, and then she fell asleep.

Main Clause: Kate was sitting on the bed

Main Clause: Then she fell asleep

Subordinate Clause: While she was studying in her room

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: While

3. I completed my work, but I am very tired to go shopping because the day was very hectic.

Main Clause: I completed my work

Main Clause: I am very tired to go shopping

Subordinate Clause: Because the day was very hectic

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

4. Sanya likes horror movies because they are quite interesting, but she is scared of watching them.

Main Clause: Sanya likes horror movies

Main Clause: She is scared of watching them

Subordinate Clause: Because they are quite interesting

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

5. When I was small, my parents wanted me to learn swimming, but I was not interested.

Main Clause: My parents wanted me to learn swimming

Main Clause: I was not interested

Subordinate Clause: When I was small

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: When

6. Before I reached the station, they arrived, and so we came early.

Main Clause: They arrived

Main Clause: We came early

Subordinate Clause: Before I reached the station

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Before

7. Because she learned well, she cleared the entrance exam and was able to get admission in the college.

Main Clause: She cleared the entrance exam

Main Clause: Was able to get admission in the college

Subordinate Clause: Because she learned well

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

8. When I finished my class, my mother came and we went home together.

Main Clause: My mother came

Main Clause: We went home together

Subordinate Clause: When I finished my class

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: When

9. My sister wants to eat ice creams because she loves them, but my mother does not allow her to eat.

Main Clause: My sister wants to eat ice creams

Main Clause: My mother does not allow her to eat

Subordinate Clause: Because she loves them

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

10. When the bell rang, all the students ran to their places and waited for their teacher.

Main Clause: All the students ran to their places

Main Clause: Waited for their teacher

Subordinate Clause: When the bell rang

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: When

11. She is the girl, who came late, and missed the school bus.

Main Clause: She is the girl

Main Clause: Missed the school bus

Subordinate Clause: Who came late

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Who

12. We went to their house, but we could not meet them because they had gone somewhere out.

Main Clause: We went to their house

Main Clause: We could not meet them

Subordinate Clause: Because they had gone somewhere out

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

13. Even though she had a long day, Riya had to complete the project and so she worked over time.

Main Clause: Riya had to complete the project

Main Clause: She worked over time

Subordinate Clause: Even though she had a long day

Coordinating Conjunction: And so

Subordinating Conjunction: Even though

14. After we returned from the vacation, school was reopened and I was happy about meeting my friends.

Main Clause: School was reopened

Main Clause: I was happy about meeting my friends

Subordinate Clause: After we returned from the vacation

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: After

15. I went to the University in order to meet my teacher, but he was on leave.

Main Clause: I went to the University

Main Clause: He was on leave

Subordinate Clause: In order to meet my teacher

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: In order

16.  My mother takes home tuition every evening to the kids who live in the neighborhood for she has her household chores till the afternoon.

Main Clause: My mother takes home tuition every evening to the kids

Main Clause: She has her household chores till the afternoon

Subordinate Clause: Who live in the neighborhood

Coordinating Conjunction: For

Subordinating Conjunction: Who

17. Although the target was high, we achieved it and so we got our incentives.

Main Clause: We achieved it

Main Clause: We got our incentives

Subordinate Clause: Although the target was high

Coordinating Conjunction: And so

Subordinating Conjunction: Although

18. We were in the railway station when the train arrived and we boarded the train.

Main Clause: We were in the railway station

Main Clause: We boarded the train

Subordinate Clause: When the train arrived

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: When

19. If he wants to come to come to the trip, he needs to pay the money or he will not be allowed.

Main Clause: He needs to pay the money

Main Clause: He will not be allowed

Subordinate Clause: If he wants to come to come to the trip

Coordinating Conjunction: Or

Subordinating Conjunction: If

20. I got a new bag because my old one was damaged and I could not use it anymore.

Main Clause: I got a new bag

Main Clause: I could not use it anymore

Subordinate Clause: Because my old one was damaged

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

21. When we won the match, all of us were happy and we got selected to the finals.

Main Clause: All of us were happy

Main Clause: We got selected to the finals

Subordinate Clause: When we won the match

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: When

22. The clock stopped ticking because the battery was dead and so I replaced it.

Main Clause: The clock stopped ticking

Main Clause: I replaced it

Subordinate Clause: Because the battery was dead

Coordinating Conjunction: And so

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

23. Because the time was over, we weren’t able to complete our performance, yet we won the competition.

Main Clause: We weren’t able to complete our performance

Main Clause: We won the competition

Subordinate Clause: Because the time was over

Coordinating Conjunction: Yet

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

24. My daughter has not seen her uncle who lives in Canada but still she loves him.

Main Clause: My daughter has not seen her uncle

Main Clause: Still she loves him

Subordinate Clause: Who lives in Canada

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Who

25. We built our new house atop the mountain because we wanted to wake up to a beautiful view and we wanted to stay away from the urban noises.

Main Clause: We built our new house atop the mountain

Main Clause: We wanted stay away from the urban noises

Subordinate Clause: Because we wanted to wake up to a beautiful view

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

26. After my classes, I joined my family for dinner and then we went to watch a movie.

Main Clause: I joined my family for dinner

Main Clause: Then we went to watch a movie

Subordinate Clause: After my classes

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: After

27. I want to walk home from the office every evening because I need exercise but I don’t have the time.

Main Clause: I want to walk home from the office every evening

Main Clause: I don’t have the time

Subordinate Clause: Because I need exercise

Coordinating Conjunction: But

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

28. If I clear my bank exam, I will start my training and I will move to Coimbatore.

Main Clause: I will start my training

Main Clause: I will move to Coimbatore

Subordinate Clause: If I clear my bank exam

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: If

29. Young children need to drink adequate amounts of water because their metabolism is high and they can get dehydrated easily.

Main Clause: Young children need to drink adequate amounts of water

Main Clause: They can get dehydrated easily

Subordinate Clause: Because their metabolism is high

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

30. Since last week, I am feeling very thirsty and I am consuming a lot of frozen foods.

Main Clause: I am feeling very thirsty

Main Clause: I am consuming a lot of frozen foods

Subordinate Clause: Since last week

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Since

31. The suitcase was heavy because of the bronze statue and I had to take the help of my friend to load it into the car.

Main Clause: The suitcase was heavy

Main Clause: I had to take the help of my friend to load it into the car

Subordinate Clause: Because of the bronze statue

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

32. For years now, our department has been winning accolades and the students have been placed in top tier companies because of the hard work of our teachers and researchers.

Main Clause: For years now, our department has been winning accolades

Main Clause: The students have been placed in top tier companies

Subordinate Clause: Because of the hard work of our teachers and researchers

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

33. My father worked overnight because he had to complete his project and also had to present it the next day.

Main Clause: My father worked overnight

Main Clause: Also had to present it the next day

Subordinate Clause: Because he had to complete his project

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

34. My sister worked harder this time since she wanted to be the topper and yes, she achieved what she wanted.

Main Clause: My sister worked harder this time

Main Clause: Yes, she achieved what she wanted

Subordinate Clause: Since she wanted to be the topper

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Since

35. Tanya learnt to cook because she is going abroad and she loves to eat Indian food.

Main Clause: Tanya learnt to cook

Main Clause: She loves to eat Indian food

Subordinate Clause: Because she is going abroad

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

36. Let me end this speech now because it is time to eat and you might all be feeling hungry.

Main Clause: Let me end this speech now

Main Clause: You might all be feeling hungry

Subordinate Clause: Because it is time to eat

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Because

37. When the students joined college, they did not know that their teacher was an army veteran and he had saved many lives during his tenure in the army.

Main Clause: They did not know that their teacher was an army veteran

Main Clause: He had saved many lives during his tenure in the army

Subordinate Clause: When the students joined college

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: When

38. It was a pleasant surprise when I saw him and so, we went to have our dinner together.

Main Clause: It was a pleasant surprise

Main Clause: We went to have our dinner together

Subordinate Clause: When I saw him

Coordinating Conjunction: And so

Subordinating Conjunction: When

39. The kid fell down while she was playing and she started crying due to pain.

Main Clause: The kid fell down

Main Clause: She started crying

Subordinate Clause: While she was playing

Subordinate Clause: Due to pain

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: While, Due

40. Whoever wins the match, he will be given a cash prize of 50,000 USD and he will also be granted lifetime access to the elite club.

Main Clause: He will be given a cash prize of 50,000 USD

Main Clause: He will also be granted lifetime access to the elite club

Subordinate Clause: Whoever wins the match

Coordinating Conjunction: And

Subordinating Conjunction: Whoever

Frequently Asked Questions

When to use a compound complex sentence?

Compound Complex sentence is used when long detailed information or thought has to be conveyed.

Example: Even though we went early, we missed the bus and so we took a cab.

This compound complex sentence tells us detailed information about them missing their bus.

Why to use compound complex sentence?

Compound complex sentences are used because they give us answers to why, when, where and how as it contains more information.

Example: I woke up late in the morning because the alarm did not ring and so, I got late for the meeting.

Here, we get to know why the person got up late, where will he/she be late, when did the person wake and all such answers.

How to use compound complex sentence?

Compound complex sentence must have two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction and one or more related dependent clauses joined by subordinating conjunction.

Example: We were are all playing and having fun in the class while we heard that thundering sound.

Here, ‘we were all playing’ and ‘having fun in the class’ are 2 independent clauses linked by ‘and’. ‘While we heard that thundering sound’ is the related dependent clause joined by conjunction ‘while’.

Compound Complex Sentence Structure

Independent Clause + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Dependant Clause.

This is the basic structure. However the position of the clauses and the number of clauses can vary.

Example: She studies well and also is good at craft work, but is a little naughty because she is pampered a lot.