B2 Lesson 1: Using a Variety of Complex Sentence Structures
Welcome to B2 Sentence Construction! At this level, your goal is to write with greater variety1 and sophistication2. You already know how to write simple, compound, and basic complex sentences. Today, we will expand your toolkit by introducing adjective clauses.
Mastering this structure will allow you to combine ideas in a much more fluid and advanced way.
Introducing Adjective (Relative) Clauses
An adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts like a long adjective. It follows a noun and gives more information about it. These clauses are introduced by relative pronouns.
| Relative Pronoun | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | For people | The woman who lives next door is a doctor. |
| which | For things | The book which is on my desk is very interesting. |
| that | For people or things | I lost the phone that I bought last week. |
| where | For places | This is the restaurant where we had dinner. |
| whose | For possession | He is the man whose car was stolen. |
The Most Important Comma Rule: Defining vs. Non-Defining
This is a critical rule for advanced writing. The use of commas changes the meaning of the sentence.
Defining Clauses (Essential Information = NO COMMAS)
A defining clause gives essential information that we need to identify which person or thing you are talking about. The sentence would not make sense without it.
Example: The student who received the highest score will get a scholarship.
(We need the clause to know WHICH student. We do not use commas.)Non-Defining Clauses (Extra Information = USE COMMAS)
A non-defining clause gives extra, "bonus" information about a noun that is already specific. You can remove it and the sentence still makes sense.
Example: My oldest brother, who lives in Phnom Penh, is an architect.
(We already know who 'my oldest brother' is. The clause just adds extra information. We MUST use commas to separate it.)✍️ B2 Sentence Variety Checklist
- ✔️ Does my writing include a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences?
- ✔️ Have I used an adjective clause (who, which, that, etc.) to add detail to a noun?
- ✔️ Have I correctly used (or not used) commas to show if the clause is defining or non-defining?
🧠 Practice Quiz: Comma or No Comma?
Read the sentences below. Decide if the adjective clause needs commas.
1. The phone that I bought yesterday has an amazing camera.
Answer: No comma needed. The clause "that I bought yesterday" is defining—it tells us WHICH phone.
2. Angkor Wat which is a UNESCO World Heritage site is Cambodia's most famous tourist attraction.
Answer: Yes, commas are needed. The clause "which is a UNESCO World Heritage site" is non-defining (extra information). Correct: Angkor Wat, which is..., is...
3. This is the cafe where I often meet my friends.
Answer: No comma needed. The clause "where I often meet my friends" is defining—it tells us WHICH cafe.
📝 Homework: Combine and Create
Get your notebook and pen. Practice creating advanced complex sentences.
Part 1: Combine these sentences using the relative pronoun in brackets. Add commas only if necessary.
- My sister works as a tour guide. She speaks three languages fluently. (who)
- The restaurant is on the riverside. We ate there last night. (where)
Part 2: Write your own sentence for each situation.
- Write one sentence about a specific building (e.g., The Royal Palace) using a non-defining clause with "which".
- Write one sentence about a type of food using a defining clause with "that".
Answers (Part 1): 1. My sister, who speaks three languages fluently, works as a tour guide. 2. The restaurant where we ate last night is on the riverside.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Variety (sentence): (Noun) - ភាពចម្រុះ - Using many different types of sentence structures to make writing more interesting. ↩
- Sophistication: (Noun) - ភាពទំនើប - The quality of being advanced, complex, and showing a high level of skill. ↩
- Adjective Clause (Relative Clause): (Noun Phrase) - ឃ្លាគុណនាម - A dependent clause that describes a noun, usually beginning with who, which, that, where, or whose. ↩
- Defining Clause: (Noun Phrase) - ឃ្លាកំណត់ - A clause that provides essential information to identify a noun. It does not use commas.
- Non-defining Clause: (Noun Phrase) - ឃ្លាមិនកំណត់ - A clause that provides extra, non-essential information about a noun. It must be separated by commas.