Writing: Sentence Construction & Variety (Advanced) (B2) - Lesson 1: Using a Variety of Complex Sentence Structures
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Hello B2 Writers! 👋
You're already good at writing simple and compound sentences. Now, it's time to explore complex sentences more deeply. Using a variety of complex sentence structures will make your writing more sophisticated, nuanced, and engaging.
We'll introduce three important types of clauses that help form complex sentences: relative clauses, conditional clauses, and participle clauses (introductory look).
In this lesson, you will:
- Briefly review the basic structure of complex sentences.
- Be introduced to relative clauses (using who, which, that, whose, where, when).
- Be introduced to conditional clauses (Types 1 & 2: if-clauses).
- Get a brief introduction to present participle clauses.
- Practice forming these types of sentences.
Quick Review: What is a Complex Sentence?
A complex sentence contains one independent clause (a main idea that can stand alone) and one or more dependent clauses (ideas that cannot stand alone and need the independent clause to make sense).
Dependent clauses are often introduced by subordinating conjunctions (e.g., because, when, if, although) or relative pronouns (e.g., who, which, that).
Example: Although it was raining heavily, they decided to go for a walk.
(Dependent clause: "Although it was raining heavily" - cannot stand alone)
(Independent clause: "they decided to go for a walk" - can stand alone)
Relative Clauses (Adjective Clauses)
Relative clauses give more information about a noun. They usually start with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).
Common Relative Pronouns/Adverbs:
- who (for people): The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
- which (for things/animals): This is the phone which has the best camera.
- that (for people, things, animals - mainly in defining clauses): The book that I lent you was very good.
- whose (for possession): He's the artist whose paintings are famous.
- where (for places): That's the cafe where we first met.
- when (for times): I remember the day when school finished for summer.
Defining vs. Non-defining: For B2, we mostly use defining relative clauses (like the examples above) which give essential information and don't use commas. Non-defining clauses give extra information and use commas (e.g., "My brother, who is a teacher, lives in London."). We'll focus more on non-defining later.
Conditional Clauses (If-Clauses)
Conditional clauses usually start with "if" and talk about a condition and its result.
Type 1 Conditional (Real Present/Future):
Used for possible or likely situations in the present or future.
Structure: If + Simple Present, ... will + base verb.
Example: If it rains tomorrow, I will take my umbrella.
Or: I will take my umbrella if it rains tomorrow. (No comma needed here)
Type 2 Conditional (Unreal/Hypothetical Present/Future):
Used for imaginary, unlikely, or hypothetical situations in the present or future.
Structure: If + Simple Past, ... would + base verb.
Example: If I had wings, I would fly to the moon.
Or: I would fly to the moon if I had wings.
There are other conditional types (Type 0 for general truths, Type 3 for unreal past conditions), which you will explore more later.
Participle Clauses (Introduction)
Participle clauses are a more advanced way to add information to a sentence, often making it more concise. They use participles (verb forms).
Present Participle Clauses (-ing):
These often describe an action happening at the same time as the main verb, or give a reason for the main action. They usually refer to the subject of the main clause.
If the participle clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, it's followed by a comma (,).
- Same time action: Whistling a happy tune, the boy walked home. (Means: The boy was whistling while he walked home.)
- Reason: Feeling tired after the long journey, she decided to rest. (Means: Because she felt tired...)
Past Participle Clauses (-ed/-en) are also common (e.g., "Exhausted from the game, the team went home.") and often have a passive meaning. We'll focus more on these later.
Using participle clauses correctly requires careful attention to the subject they are modifying.
Practice Complex Sentence Structures!
✨ Tips for Using Complex Sentence Structures ✨
- Understand the Linkers: Know the meaning of subordinating conjunctions (when, if, because, although) and relative pronouns (who, which, that, where, whose) to choose the correct one.
- Punctuation is Key: Remember the comma rule for introductory dependent clauses. For relative clauses, defining ones usually don't need commas, while non-defining ones do (we'll practice non-defining more later).
- Clarity First: While complex sentences add sophistication, your main goal is always clear communication. Don't make sentences too long or complicated if it makes them hard to understand.
- Vary Your Sentences: Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences in your writing to make it more interesting and mature.
Building More Advanced Sentences! 🎉
Learning to use a variety of complex sentence structures will significantly improve your writing fluency and allow you to express more detailed and nuanced ideas!