Question

Which of the following sentences is complex?

Danny and Erica went for a bike ride.
Danny and Erica rode their bikes down the trail, through the woods, and along the riverbank.
After Danny and Erica rode their bikes throughout the countryside, they went back to Erica’s house and had some cool lemonade.
Danny and Erica rode their bikes again the next day.

Answer 1

The sentence that is complex is:

C. After Danny and Erica rode their bikes throughout the countryside, they went back to Erica's house and had some cool lemonade.

Step-by-step explanation:

A complex sentence is formed by joining an independent clause to a dependent or subordinate one. An independent clause is able to stand alone as a sentence because it can convey a complete thought on its own. A dependent clause on the other hand, cannot do that. Alone, it sounds incomplete.

The sentence "After Danny and Erica rode their bikes throughout the countryside, they went back to Erica's house and had some cool lemonade" is an example of a complex sentence. The independent clause is:

- they went back to Erica's house and had some cool lemonade

The dependent clause is the one beginning with a subordinating conjunction (after), and which cannot stand alone as a sentence:

- After Danny and Erica rode their bikes throughout the countryside