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A complex sentence contains both a dependent and an independent clause. Adverbial dependent clauses are often introduced with one of the following subordinate conjunctions:
Type Examples Time after, before, until, when, whenever, while, since Reason/Cause as, because, whereas, since Purpose that, in order that, so that Condition if, unless, in case, provided that Concession although, though, even though Result so that Place where, wherever, everywhere Manner as, as if, as though
Here are two examples of complex sentences:
A good fire is better than trees dying out because nutrients are cycled back into the soil.
After severe fires killed some of the tall trees in the lower elevations where the elks live, the aspens below spread and flourished.
A compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. For example:
Because managers have tools such as elevated boardwalks, campgrounds, and restricted areas, national park managers have the flexibility to limit human interference; therefore, terrain can recover from years of use.
Understanding sentence structure allows writers to establish relationships among ideas by appropriate use of coordination and subordination. Clearly, important ideas belong in independent clauses whereas less important ideas should be expressed in dependent clauses or even in phrases.