What is a key characteristic of a complex sentence?

• A. It contains only independent clauses.
• B. It contains at least one subordinate clause.
• C. It consists of two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction.
• D. It has no clauses at all.

Answer: (B)

A key characteristic of a complex sentence is that it contains at least one subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences; instead, they depend on an independent clause to provide context and meaning. This combination allows complex sentences to convey more complex ideas and relationships between concepts, which is essential for effective writing and communication.

In contrast, other options highlight different types of sentence structures. Sentences that contain only independent clauses are classified as compound sentences, while those that consist of two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction also fall into the category of compound sentences. Lastly, a sentence with no clauses at all does not qualify as a complete sentence, as it lacks the necessary grammatical structure. Thus, the presence of at least one subordinate clause distinctly defines a complex sentence.