Mastering English Grammar with Complex Sentences

Which of the following is a correctly punctuated complex sentence?

A. My phone rings, when I take a shower.

B. Whenever I take a shower my phone seems to ring.

C. Whenever I step into the shower, my phone seems to ring.

D. My phone seems to ring; whenever I step into the shower.

Answer: C. Whenever I step into the shower, my phone seems to ring.

Understanding Complex Sentences in English Grammar

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. In the correct option C, "Whenever I step into the shower" is the dependent clause, and "my phone seems to ring" is the independent clause.

Here's why option C is the correct choice:

• It has a subordinating conjunction "whenever" introducing the dependent clause.
• The independent clause "my phone seems to ring" can stand alone as a complete sentence.

By using a subordinating conjunction like "whenever" to connect the two clauses, the sentence becomes a complex sentence with a clear relationship between the ideas.

Remember, in complex sentences, the dependent clause relies on the independent clause for meaning and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.