Complex Sentence Structure

What is a complex sentence structure?

A Complex sentence is an independent clause connected to one or more dependent clauses using a subordinating conjunction (despite, although) or a relative pronoun (who, which). Three types of complex sentence clauses:

Adverbial Clause

Adverbial clauses are dependent clauses and are connected to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Either the dependent or independent clause can come first in the sentence, but a comma must be used to separate the clauses if the dependent adverbial clause is fronted.

Adjective (Relative) Clauses

There are two types of adjective clauses: Defining (this is necessary as it identifies the noun. No commas are needed) and non- defining (this is not necessary to identify the noun, but it gives extra information. Commas are needed).

Noun Clauses

That clauses  – Scientists predict that billions of people could face unliveable heat by 2070.

Wh-clauses – Researchers have described how a new bacterium can feed on plastic.

If clauses – Genetic enhancement will be needed if humans decide to colonize Mars.

Complex Sentence Structure Lesson [3] new 2022

Aim: This lesson helps to improve students’ understanding and practice of complex sentence structure.

Time: 90 minutes & homework task.

complex sentence structure

 

 Sentence Structure 3: Complex sentence structure (STEM) [new 2022]

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of complex sentence structure. The worksheets focus on three structures: adverbial, adjective and noun clauses and contain key explanations and sentence and paragraph-level practice within a STEM context (see worksheet example) Time: 90mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

More Sentence Structure Lessons

Sentence Structure Lesson 1

Aim: To support students in their understanding and practice of the four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound.

Time: 60 minutes & homework task

sentence structure

 Sentence Structure 1: simple, compound, complex & complex compound [new 2020]

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of the four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Sentence Structure Lesson 2

Aim: To support students in their understanding and practice of fragment, run-on and comma splice sentence structure

Time: 60 minutes & homework task

sentence structure 2 Aeuk

 Sentence Structure 2: fragment, run-on & comma splice sentences  [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ sentence structure through identifying and practising fragments, run-ons and comma splice sentences. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]./ TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Relative clauses 

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of defining & non-defining relative clauses.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

defining relative clauses AEUK
non-defining relative clauses

 Relative clauses: defining & non-defining clauses [new 2020]

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and use of defining & non-defining relative clauses.The lesson includes four tasks of guided practice and two tasks of freer practice (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Cause & effect language

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of cause & effect language.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

cause and effect language

 Cause & effect language: causes, effects and related language [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of cause and effect language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Compare & contrast

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of compare & contrast language.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

compare and contrast Aeuk
compare and contrast adverbs AEUK
compare and contrast language AEUK

 

 Compare & contrast: comparatives and superlatives [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of compare and contrast language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Modals

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use modal auxiliary verbs.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

modal auxiliary verbs
modal auxiliary verbs

 Modal Auxiliary Verbs [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of modal verbsIt includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Conditionals / If clauses

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use conditionals.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

zero and first conditionals
second and third conditionals
Academic Mixed conditionals

 

 Conditionals [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of conditionalsIt includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Uncountable & Countable Nouns

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of accountable and uncountable nouns.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

academic uncountable nouns
academic countable nouns

 

 Countable and uncountable nouns [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of countable & uncountable nounsIt includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example Time: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Verb Patterns (-ing forms & to-infinitives) 

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of verb patterns.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

verb patterns

 

 Verb Patterns [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of verb patterns (verb + infinitive, verb + to infinitive, verb + gerund, verb + that clause, verb + wh-clause) It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. see worksheet example Time: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Academic Hedging Lesson 

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of hedging (cautious/tentative) language.

Time: 60 minutes plus homework task.

hedging language verbs & adverbs
hedging language probability

 

 Hedging: Cautious / tentative language [new 2020]

This lesson supports students in their understanding & use of cautious / tentative language.The lesson includes six tasks of guided practice & two tasks of freer practice (see worksheet exampleTime: 60mins & homework.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP

 

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Cohesion

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of cohesive devices in a text

Time: 60 minutes 

cohesive devices

 

Cohesion & Coherence Worksheet – AEUK

This worksheet helps to consolidate what ‘cohesion’  is with a focus on pronouns, word forms and summary nouns. It also includes a coherence sheet on key connections and two practice activities. Example  Level: ***** [B2/C1] / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

Parallelism 

Aim: To support students in their understanding and use of parallelism in writing.

Time: 30 minutes 

parallel structures

 

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Parallelism Worksheet: 8 exercises

This worksheet provides an explanation of the key concepts of ‘parallelism’ and provides an error correction exercise to practise the key concepts. An awareness of this writing element really helps establish unity and readability in sentence structure. See Example worksheet. Level: ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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