Sentence Structure
Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. In diagrams, the independent clauses are stacked vertically and joined by the broken step-down line (as in a compound sentence), while dependent clauses attach to whichever clause they modify.
Stacking Independent Clauses
âThe first pig built his house of straw, and the second pig, who was little wiser, built his house of sticks.â
Transitional Adverbs (however, therefore, nevertheless)
Transitional adverbs (conjunctive adverbs) like however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, thus are not coordinating conjunctions â they cannot join two independent clauses grammatically. They are diagrammed as ordinary adverbs on slanted lines below the verb they modify.
Putting It All Together
A compound-complex sentence diagram combines all the tools you have learned:
- Compound element: parallel horizontals with a broken vertical connector carrying the coordinating conjunction (from Imperatives & Conjunctions)
- Adjective clause: broken vertical from relative pronoun to antecedent (from Adjective Clauses)
- Adverb clause: broken diagonal from subordinating conjunction to modified element (from Adverb Clauses)
- Noun clause: pedestal mounting on functional position (from Noun Clauses)