Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

Which of the following sentences is a complex sentence?

Rationale

When Jung-hoon found a seat on the bus, he hoped he would have a quiet ride.

This sentence is a complex sentence because it contains an independent clause ("he hoped he would have a quiet ride") and a dependent clause ("When Jung-hoon found a seat on the bus") that cannot stand alone. The presence of the subordinating conjunction "when" establishes the relationship between the two clauses, characteristic of complex sentences.

A (When Jung-hoon found a seat on the bus, he hoped he would have a quiet ride.) CORRECT

As mentioned, this option contains both an independent clause and a dependent clause, making it a complex sentence. The dependent clause adds context to the independent clause, illustrating a condition under which the action occurs.

B (Jung-hoon waited for the bus, and when the bus didn't appear, he wasn't sure it would, so he walked to the next bus stop.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence is a compound-complex sentence since it contains two independent clauses ("Jung-hoon waited for the bus" and "he wasn't sure it would") connected by a coordinating conjunction, along with a dependent clause ("when the bus didn't appear"). Therefore, it does not qualify as a simple complex sentence.

C (Both the bus and Jung-hoon were running late.) YOUR ANSWER

This is a simple sentence that consists of a single independent clause, lacking any dependent clauses. It presents a straightforward statement without the complexity of clause interdependence.

D (Jung-hoon and Cho decreased their carbon footprint.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence is also a simple sentence with a single independent clause. It does not contain any additional clauses or complexity, making it a straightforward declarative statement.

Conclusion

In summary, option A stands out as the only complex sentence among the choices provided, featuring both an independent and a dependent clause. The other options either present simple or compound-complex structures, highlighting the unique grammatical characteristics of complex sentences in English.

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