Majority of students think writing complicated sentences will earn them more marks. They try to make all the sentences complex and often, in the process, commit grammatical errors. We obviously need to use complex sentences in our writings but the key is to know where and how to use them.
What is a complex sentence?
The foremost thing to do is to understand what a complex sentence is. Complex sentences are not actually very complicated sentences, but just one or more simple sentences put together to make it sound coherent and cohesive. Students try to form many typical sentences, combining four or more sentences. This affects the meaning as most of the sentences come out to be grammatically incorrect. Given below is an example of forming a complex sentence:
- Almost all countries are facing problem of declining health.
- Obesity is the major factor.
- This is causing a lot of distress.
- All age groups are suffering from this problem.
This sentence can be rephrased as: Nations worldwide are dealing with the growing issue of obesity and declining health. This is a reason for distress for all age groups.
Where to use a complex sentence?
Complex sentences are mainly used while expanding the main points. Start off with a simple sentence and then go about supporting it with examples using complex sentences.
How to form a complex sentence?
A dependent and an independent clause form a complex sentence. A clause is a group of words having both- noun and a verb.
Example- I switched on the air conditioner because it was very hot.
Here, I switched on the air conditioner is an independent clause, since it is a complete sentence on its own; whereas because it was very hot is a dependent clause, since this sentence does not make any sense on its own.
Complex sentence are not necessarily complicated. Given below are further ways to make a sentence complicated:
- Relative Clauses: Relative clauses are used to give essential information about the subject making use of words like who, which and that. For example, deforestation, which is one of the major reasons of global warming, is increasing at alarming rates.
- Subordinate Clauses: These types of clauses are used to describe nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Also, they act as subject or object of another clause. The words used are as, because, while, until, even though, although, when and if. For example, global warming will not reduce in coming years, as there is no control over deforestation.
- Conditional Clause: These clauses are used to explain that the condition in the main clause can happen only if the other condition is met. For example, if we reduce deforestation, global warming can reduce alarmingly. Types of conditional clauses: a. zero conditionals, b. first conditionlas, c. second conditionals, d. third conditionals
- Compound sentences: compound sentences are two independent clauses joined together with linking words like and, for or but. For example, we have many ways to reduce global warming but we are too reluctant.
Usage of these clauses can help you introduce complex sentences in your essay and earn you a higher IELTS band score but remember correct usage is the key. Also remember to put these tips into practice before appearing for your IELTS exam.
Originally posted 2018-03-26 22:22:18.
