If you want to get your students using complex sentences, start with a speaking exercise.

Recap previous learning: What is a complex sentence?

• 1 complex sentence = 1 independent clause (IC) + 1 or more dependent clause(s) (DC).

Speaking practice using sentence starters

Here are 7 complex sentence starters. Take turns making sentences and sharing them with your partner:

Although...

E.g. Although fish and chips are bad for me, I still eat them every week.

Rather than...

E.g. Rather than eating salty, deep-fried junk food, you could eat lush, life-giving salad.

Despite the fact that...

E.g. Despite the fact that fish and chips are loaded with calories, they taste delicious.

As long as...

E.g. As long as fish and chips are on the menu, I will buy them.

Unless...

E.g. Unless every fish and chip outlet burns down, I will be there every week buying fish and chips.

Because...

E.g. Because it is a deep family tradition fostered over many years, I continue to eat fish and chips on a weekly basis.

As soon as...

E.g. As soon as I smell fish and chips, my mouth starts watering.

Deeper engagement: What's the function?

Share the above example sentences with your students.

All of the sentences deal with the same topic, fish and chips, but each sentence serves a different function:

• Express condition or probability

• Indicate the time when something happens

• Show contrast

• Show cause and effect

Ask students to write down each function as a subheading and under each one, write the sentence starter.

Answers: Express condition/ probability: Unless; As long as; Indicate time: As soon as; Contrast: Although; Despite the fact that; Rather than; Cause and effect: Because.

Further practice

Students can now practice more freely using the 7 sentence starters to make more complex sentences. Provide them with a fun topic to get started (dogs, cats, rats...). Share any funny or good ones.