Final answer:
A sentence with an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses is known as a complex sentence. The independent clause can stand alone, while the dependent clause (or clauses) cannot and provides additional information to the independent clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
An independent clause is a sentence component that can stand alone as a complete sentence; it has a subject and a predicate and doesn't rely on additional information to be understood. Conversely, a dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, contains a subject and a verb but cannot exist as a sentence by itself because it doesn't express a complete thought. Instead, it is attached to an independent clause to add additional information.
Complex sentences
contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. For example,
'Hand me that socket wrench, because I cannot reach it.'
The main clause 'Hand me that socket wrench' can stand alone, while the subordinate clause 'because I cannot reach it' provides a reason and is dependent on the main clause to make sense.
Subordinate clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as 'although', 'since', 'because', or 'when'.
A compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Within such sentences, the independent clauses could each be sentences on their own, but they are connected with coordinating conjunctions or punctuation like semicolons or commas, while the dependent clauses rely on the independent ones to provide a complete idea.