OBJECTIVE:
Complex sentences have an independent clause (subject and verb that can stand alone) and one or more clauses or verbal phrases.

Example: When the the snow melts in the spring, the rivers rise.

The independent clause is “the rivers rise.” The dependant clause is “When the snow melts in the spring”.

Complex sentences allow writers to deemphasize the content in the clause or phrase and emphasize the content in the independent clause.

Example: Running through the woods at dusk, I left my concerns behind.

The independent clause is “I left my concerns behind.” The participial phrase is “Running through the woods at dusk”

We will generate a complex sentence in the FREESTYLE mode on piclits.com and will learn how to select words to create the necessary clauses and phrases.

INCORRECT AND CORRECT:
These incorrect sentences have introductions that dangle; they modify the wrong subjects.

Incorrect: While watching the football game commercials made the game last for four hours.
Correct: While watching the football game, we realized that the commercials made the game last for four hours.

Incorrect: Strong and self-reliant, the thought of living alone in the wilderness for a week was appealing.
Correct: Strong and self-reliant, I thought living alone in the wilderness for a week was appealing.

Incorrect: After hiking in the mountains for eight hours with only two handfuls of sunflower seeds in my belly, the sight of highway was welcome.
Correct: After hiking in the mountains for eight hours with only two handfuls of sunflower seeds in my belly, I welcomed the sight of the highway.

The following incorrect sentence has a long introductory, participial phrase and is not punctuated by a comma before the subject.

Incorrect: Being in a dilapidated condition and located next to a subway station with a history of vandalism the house was cheap.
Correct: Being in a dilapidated condition and located next to a subway station with a history of vandalism, the house was cheap.

★ note that the only correction for this sentence is off setting the long participial phrase with a comma.

MODEL PIC-LIT:

Notice the dependent clause“When the wolves saw the grizzly bear” depends on the rest of the sentence to be a complete sentence.
★ “the wolves growled” is an independent clause.

GUIDED PRACTICE WRITING PROMPT:

1. Go to piclits.com
2. Sign in with your e-mail and password
3. Select a picture from the gallery of pictures
4. In FREESTYLE mode, generate a complex sentence by creating a participial phrase or dependent clause. Label your participial phrase or dependent clause in parentheses (see the above model PIC-LIT).