Key learning points

1. Any complex sentence is formed of at least one main clause joined to at least one subordinate clause.
2. There are different types of subordinate clause: adverbial clause, relative clause and non-finite clause.
3. Any subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
4. There are three types of complex sentence: adverbial, relative and non-finite.
5. There are comma rules associated with clause demarcation in complex sentences.

Keywords

• Subordinate clause - a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense

• Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction

• Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun

• Non-finite clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a verb in the progressive tense

• Complex sentence - a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause

Common misconception