"complex sentence" meaning in English

See complex sentence in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: complex sentences [plural]
Head templates: {{en-noun}} complex sentence (plural complex sentences)
  1. (grammar) A sentence that contains an independent clause as well as one or more dependent clauses, such as a relative clause, an adverbial clause, or a noun clause. Categories (topical): Grammar Translations (sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause): 複句 (Chinese Mandarin), 复句 (fùjù) (Chinese Mandarin), onderschikkende zin [masculine] (Dutch), phrase complexe [feminine] (French), Satzgefüge [neuter] (German), összetett mondat (Hungarian), kalimat majemuk bertingkat (Indonesian), periodo [masculine] (Italian), 複文 (fukubun) (alt: ふくぶん) (Japanese), 복문 (bongmun) (Korean), сло́жное предложе́ние (slóžnoje predložénije) [neuter] (Russian), сложноподчинённое предложе́ние (složnopodčinjónnoje predložénije) [neuter] (Russian), oración subordinada [feminine] (Spanish), hugnayang pangungusap (Tagalog), langkapang pangungusap (english: compound-complex sentence) (Tagalog), สังกรประโยค (sǎng-gà-rá-bprà-yòok) (Thai), ประโยคความซ้อน (bprà-yòok-kwaam-sɔ́ɔn) (Thai), brawddeg gymhleth [feminine] (Welsh)
    Sense id: en-complex_sentence-en-noun-uNkW8AcQ Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Indonesian translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Korean translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Tagalog translations, Terms with Thai translations, Terms with Welsh translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 69 31 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 81 19 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 68 32 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 71 29 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 76 24 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 75 25 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 76 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 65 35 Disambiguation of Terms with Indonesian translations: 68 32 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 74 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 74 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Korean translations: 71 29 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 73 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 74 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 75 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Tagalog translations: 71 29 Disambiguation of Terms with Thai translations: 71 29 Disambiguation of Terms with Welsh translations: 73 27 Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences Disambiguation of 'sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause': 69 31
  2. (linguistics) A sentence that contains multiple clauses, whether independent (coordinated) or dependent (subordinated); compound or complex sentence. Categories (topical): Linguistics Synonyms: composite sentence Coordinate_terms: simple sentence [grammar, linguistics, human-sciences, sciences], compound sentence [grammar, linguistics, human-sciences, sciences], compound-complex sentence [grammar, linguistics, human-sciences, sciences]
    Sense id: en-complex_sentence-en-noun-HuII6e7L Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Inflected forms

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  "forms": [
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      "form": "complex sentences",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Grammar",
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            "Language",
            "Social sciences",
            "Communication",
            "Sciences",
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          "_dis": "81 19",
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          "_dis": "68 32",
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          "_dis": "71 29",
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          "_dis": "65 35",
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          "_dis": "68 32",
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          "_dis": "74 26",
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        {
          "_dis": "74 26",
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          "_dis": "71 29",
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          "_dis": "73 27",
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          "parents": [],
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "74 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
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        {
          "_dis": "75 25",
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          "_dis": "73 27",
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          "parents": [],
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A sentence that contains an independent clause as well as one or more dependent clauses, such as a relative clause, an adverbial clause, or a noun clause."
      ],
      "id": "en-complex_sentence-en-noun-uNkW8AcQ",
      "links": [
        [
          "grammar",
          "grammar"
        ],
        [
          "independent clause",
          "independent clause"
        ],
        [
          "dependent clause",
          "dependent clause"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(grammar) A sentence that contains an independent clause as well as one or more dependent clauses, such as a relative clause, an adverbial clause, or a noun clause."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "grammar",
        "human-sciences",
        "linguistics",
        "sciences"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "複句"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "fùjù",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "复句"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "onderschikkende zin"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "phrase complexe"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Satzgefüge"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "összetett mondat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "kalimat majemuk bertingkat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "periodo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "alt": "ふくぶん",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "fukubun",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "複文"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "bongmun",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "복문"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "slóžnoje predložénije",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "сло́жное предложе́ние"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "složnopodčinjónnoje predložénije",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "сложноподчинённое предложе́ние"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "oración subordinada"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "hugnayang pangungusap"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "tl",
          "english": "compound-complex sentence",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "langkapang pangungusap"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "th",
          "lang": "Thai",
          "roman": "sǎng-gà-rá-bprà-yòok",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "สังกรประโยค"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "th",
          "lang": "Thai",
          "roman": "bprà-yòok-kwaam-sɔ́ɔn",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "word": "ประโยคความซ้อน"
        },
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          "_dis1": "69 31",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "brawddeg gymhleth"
        }
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          "name": "Linguistics",
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          "_dis1": "43 57",
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          "word": "compound-complex sentence"
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1830, Alexander Crombie, Etymology and Syntax of the English Language, page 226:",
          "text": "Sentences are either simple or complex. […] A complex sentence consists of two or more members, as, “Alexander, when he had conquered the world, is said to have wept, because there were not other worlds to subdue.” […] When a member of a complex sentence is simple, it is called indifferently a member, or a clause; as, “I have called; but ye have refused.”",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Holger Diessel, The Acquisition of Complex Sentences, page 42:",
          "text": "Complex sentences are traditionally divided into two basic types: (i) sentences including co-ordinate clauses, and (ii) sentences including subordinate clauses.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2008, Ronald W. Langacker, Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction, pages 406, 412:",
          "text": "A sentence consisting of more than one clause is said to be complex. […] There are many ways of combining clauses to form a complex sentence. Coordinate constructions represent the special case of symmetry, parallelism, and coequality among the component clauses. More typically, these properties are lacking by virtue of one clause being subordinated to another.",
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      "glosses": [
        "A sentence that contains multiple clauses, whether independent (coordinated) or dependent (subordinated); compound or complex sentence."
      ],
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          "clause",
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          "coordinate",
          "coordinate"
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          "subordinate"
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          "compound",
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        "(linguistics) A sentence that contains multiple clauses, whether independent (coordinated) or dependent (subordinated); compound or complex sentence."
      ],
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          "word": "composite sentence"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "human-sciences",
        "linguistics",
        "sciences"
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  "word": "complex sentence"
}
{
  "categories": [
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    "English entries with incorrect language header",
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    "English nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Indonesian translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Korean translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Tagalog translations",
    "Terms with Thai translations",
    "Terms with Welsh translations"
  ],
  "coordinate_terms": [
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      "word": "compound sentence"
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      "word": "compound-complex sentence"
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
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      "glosses": [
        "A sentence that contains an independent clause as well as one or more dependent clauses, such as a relative clause, an adverbial clause, or a noun clause."
      ],
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        [
          "grammar",
          "grammar"
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        "(grammar) A sentence that contains an independent clause as well as one or more dependent clauses, such as a relative clause, an adverbial clause, or a noun clause."
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        "human-sciences",
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          "ref": "1830, Alexander Crombie, Etymology and Syntax of the English Language, page 226:",
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        "A sentence that contains multiple clauses, whether independent (coordinated) or dependent (subordinated); compound or complex sentence."
      ],
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          "linguistics",
          "linguistics"
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        [
          "clause",
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          "dependent",
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          "subordinate"
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        "(linguistics) A sentence that contains multiple clauses, whether independent (coordinated) or dependent (subordinated); compound or complex sentence."
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          "word": "composite sentence"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "human-sciences",
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  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "複句"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "fùjù",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "复句"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "onderschikkende zin"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "phrase complexe"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Satzgefüge"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "összetett mondat"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "kalimat majemuk bertingkat"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "periodo"
    },
    {
      "alt": "ふくぶん",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "fukubun",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "複文"
    },
    {
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "bongmun",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "복문"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "slóžnoje predložénije",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "сло́жное предложе́ние"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "složnopodčinjónnoje predložénije",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "сложноподчинённое предложе́ние"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "oración subordinada"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "hugnayang pangungusap"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "english": "compound-complex sentence",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "langkapang pangungusap"
    },
    {
      "code": "th",
      "lang": "Thai",
      "roman": "sǎng-gà-rá-bprà-yòok",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "สังกรประโยค"
    },
    {
      "code": "th",
      "lang": "Thai",
      "roman": "bprà-yòok-kwaam-sɔ́ɔn",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "word": "ประโยคความซ้อน"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "sentence containing one independent clause and a dependent clause",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "brawddeg gymhleth"
    }
  ],
  "word": "complex sentence"
}

Download raw JSONL data for complex sentence meaning in English (6.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.