Many students make the mistake of trying to show off their grammar skills in IELTS writing by crafting overly complex sentences. This often leads to errors and lost marks. One common misconception is that every sentence needs to be complex, leading to misunderstandings about what a complex sentence actually is.
This post will cover:
-
- How many complex sentences you need in each paragraph
- What a complex sentence actually is
- How to create complex sentences
- Examples for better understanding
What Does the Examiner Expect?
The examiner’s marking criteria for grammar show that to achieve a band 6, you need to use a mix of simple and complex sentences. For a band 7, the requirement is to use a variety of complex structures. While it’s clear that using complex sentences is essential, it doesn’t mean all sentences should be complex. Band 9 answers typically use a mix of both simple and complex sentences. The key is knowing when to use them.
What Is a Complex Sentence?
The term ‘complex’ can be misleading. It does not mean the sentence needs to be complicated or lengthy. Instead, it means combining two or more simple ideas into one coherent sentence.
For example:
In the modern world, global warming is one of the most popular topics causing many environmental difficulties and tough challenges arising from its serious consequences.
This sentence tries to pack too many ideas into one, making it awkward and hard to understand. Breaking it down:
-
- Global warming is a common topic these days.
- Global warming causes environmental problems.
- There are tough challenges associated with global warming.
- Global warming has very serious consequences.
If written like this, the sentences are too simple, but we can combine them to make a complex sentence.
Complex Sentence Examples
One common environmental issue is global warming, which causes many serious environmental problems. Tough challenges are associated with this issue, and its effects have very serious consequences.
These sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand. They simply combine multiple simple ideas.
When Should I Use Complex Sentences?
Use simple sentences to introduce main points, usually at the beginning of a paragraph. Use complex sentences to expand on these points, provide examples, or explain further.
Example:
This question addresses whether fast food should be taxed at a higher rate than regular food.
-
- Increasing taxes would raise prices and lower consumption.
- Fast food companies would pass on these taxes to consumers in the form of higher prices, which would lead to people being unable to afford junk food.
- For instance, the cost of organic food has proven prohibitively expensive for most people.
- Despite this, people in many developed countries, where the problem is most acute, can afford price hikes and will continue to eat high-fat meals.
The first sentence is simple and introduces the main point. Subsequent sentences expand on this point using complex structures.
How Do I Make a Complex Sentence?
A complex sentence combines a dependent clause and an independent clause. A dependent clause, like “…because the weather was cold,” cannot stand alone. An independent clause, such as “I wore a warm coat,” can. Combined, they form a complex sentence: “I wore a warm coat because the weather was cold.”
Relative Clauses
These provide extra information about a noun. Use pronouns like who, which, and that.
Example:
Air pollution, which is mostly caused by motor vehicles, can cause health problems.
Subordinate Clauses
These describe nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. They connect an independent clause with a dependent clause using words like as, because, while, until, even though, although, when, and if.
Conditional Clauses
Used to express that the action in the main clause depends on a certain condition. There are four types:
- Zero Conditionals: Talk about true facts or information.
Example: Nowadays, when we travel long distances, we usually use air travel.
- First Conditionals: Discuss present or future situations.
Example: If the city’s population grows, we will need to build more infrastructure.
- Second Conditionals: Talk about impossible scenarios.
Example: If the sun didn’t come up tomorrow, we wouldn’t have any life on earth.
- Third Conditionals: Speculate about past events.
Example: The Second World War would never have happened if Germany had been given a fairer peace settlement in World War One.
Compound Sentences
These consist of two independent clauses linked by conjunctions like and, for, or but.
Examples:
I really want to study, but I’m too tired.
She got to the test center early and did well on her IELTS test.
Some may think compound sentences are too simple to be complex, but this is a misunderstanding.
Warning
Understand and practice these structures before your IELTS test. Memorizing and inserting them without understanding can cause you to write unnatural and incoherent sentences. Use these structures appropriately and make sure your sentences are error-free.
Next Steps
Hopefully, by know you have understood that clear and simple writing can still meet the criteria for complex sentences. Practice linking simple sentences into complex ones to improve your writing naturally. Remember to use these kinds of complex sentences in your IELTS essays, and get them scored by us!
“`
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.