Complex Sentences: Subordinate and Relative Clauses

Welcome to the World of Complex Sentences!

Do you want to reach Band 7 or higher in your IELTS General Training test? If so, mastering complex sentences is your secret weapon. Many students think "complex" means "long and difficult," but that is not true! In IELTS, a complex sentence is simply a sentence that connects different ideas together using specific words.

In the Writing and Speaking modules, examiners mark you on Grammatical Range and Accuracy. If you only use short, simple sentences, your score will likely stay at a Band 5. To get a higher score, you must show the examiner that you can use a variety of sentence structures accurately.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first. We are going to break it down into small, easy steps that will help you write and speak with more confidence!

Step 1: Understanding Subordinate Clauses

Think of a simple sentence as a bicycle—it can get you where you want to go, but it is basic. A complex sentence is like a car with a trailer. The car is the "Main Clause" (it can drive by itself), and the trailer is the "Subordinate Clause" (it needs to be attached to the car to work).

A subordinate clause starts with a subordinating conjunction. These words tell us the relationship between two ideas, such as time, reason, or contrast.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions:
- Because / As / Since (to give a reason)
- Although / Even though / While (to show contrast)
- If / Unless (to show a condition)
- When / After / Before (to show time)

Show, Don't Just Tell: Improving Your Sentences

Weak (Band 5): The public transport is bad. People drive their cars. (Two simple sentences—very basic.)
Improved (Band 7+): Because the public transport is unreliable, many people prefer to drive their own cars.

Weak (Band 5): I want to work abroad. I need to improve my English first.
Improved (Band 7+): Although I want to work abroad, I realize that I must improve my English skills first.

Key Takeaway:

Using words like although and because helps you combine ideas, which directly improves your Grammatical Range score.

Step 2: Mastering Relative Clauses

Relative clauses give more information about a person, place, or thing without starting a new sentence. They usually start with relative pronouns like who, which, that, where, or whose.

Who: For people
Which/That: For things and animals
Where: For places
Whose: For possession

The "Extra Information" Trick

Imagine you are describing your hometown in the Speaking test. Instead of two sentences, use a relative clause to sound more fluent.

Weak: I live in Vancouver. It is a very rainy city.
Improved: I live in Vancouver, which is known for being a very rainy city.

Did you know? In the Writing test, using "which" to add a comment to the end of a sentence is a great way to show high-level grammar. For example: Governments should invest in green energy, which would help reduce global pollution.

Key Takeaway:

Relative clauses act like "glue," sticking extra details to your nouns. This makes your English sound smoother and more natural.

Step 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes

Even advanced students make mistakes with complex sentences. Here are the "Top 3" mistakes that lose marks in IELTS:

1. The Comma Splice: This is when you join two full sentences with only a comma.
Incorrect: I studied hard, I passed the exam.
Correct: Because I studied hard, I passed the exam.

2. The Fragment: This is writing a subordinate clause all by itself. It's like having a trailer with no car!
Incorrect: Although the weather was bad. (This is an unfinished thought.)
Correct: Although the weather was bad, we went for a walk.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement: Remember that the verb must match the subject, even in a long sentence.
Incorrect: The books which I bought yesterday was expensive.
Correct: The books which I bought yesterday were expensive.

Exam Strategy: How to Use This in the Test

In the Writing Task 1 (Letter) and Task 2 (Essay), you don't have much time. Don't try to make every single sentence complex. If you do, your writing might become confusing.

The "Golden Rule" for Pacing:
Aim for a mix. Use simple sentences for your main points or topic sentences, and use complex sentences to explain your reasons, give examples, or show results. This variety shows the examiner you have control over the language.

Quick Checklist for Your Practice:

- Did I use at least one "although" or "even though" to show contrast?
- Did I use "which" or "who" to add extra information to a noun?
- Did I start a sentence with "If" to talk about a possibility?
- Did I check my commas? (Remember: If the subordinate clause comes first, use a comma. Because it was raining, I took an umbrella.)

Summary of High-Value Patterns

Try to memorize and practice these patterns to use in your exam:

1. Showing Cause and Effect: Since [Reason], [Result].
"Since many people now work from home, there is less traffic in the city center."

2. Adding Detail: [Noun], which [Extra Info], [Verb].
"The internet, which was invented decades ago, has changed how we communicate."

3. Contrasting Ideas: While [Idea A], [Idea B].
"While some people enjoy living in cities, others prefer the peace of the countryside."

Final Encouragement: You don't need to be a grammar genius to get a high score. Just start by trying to turn two simple sentences into one complex sentence every time you practice writing. You’ve got this!