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This lesson covers content statement L1.25: constructing complex sentences and using paragraphs to organise your writing. At Level 1, you are expected to write in clear sentences (including some complex ones) and group your ideas into paragraphs. This lesson will show you exactly what that means and how to do it.
Good sentence and paragraph skills make a big difference to your marks. Even simple ideas sound better when they are expressed in well-built sentences and organised into clear paragraphs. And the good news is that these are skills you can improve quickly with practice.
A sentence is a group of words that makes complete sense on its own. Every sentence needs:
| Example | Subject | Verb | Complete Thought? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The office closes at 5pm. | The office | closes | Yes — this is a sentence |
| Running down the corridor. | ? | Running | No — who is running? What happened? This is a fragment |
| Sarah. | Sarah | ? | No — what about Sarah? This is a fragment |
| The new schedule starts on Monday. | The new schedule | starts | Yes — this is a sentence |
At Level 1, you need to use three types of sentence. You do not need to label them in the exam, but you do need to write them.
A simple sentence has one main idea (one subject and one verb).
Simple sentences are clear and easy to understand. They are good for making important points stand out.
A compound sentence joins two simple sentences together using a joining word (conjunction). The most common joining words are:
| Joining Word | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | Adds information | I printed the report and I sent it to my manager. |
| but | Shows a contrast | The meeting was long but it was useful. |
| or | Shows a choice | You can email the form or you can hand it in at reception. |
| so | Shows a result | The car park was full so I parked on the street. |
A complex sentence has a main part (that makes sense on its own) and a dependent part (that adds extra information but does not make sense on its own).
The dependent part often starts with words like:
| Starter Words | Example |
|---|---|
| because | I was late because the bus broke down. |
| although | Although it was raining, we walked to the meeting. |
| when | When the alarm sounds, leave the building immediately. |
| if | If you need help, speak to your supervisor. |
| while | While the office is being cleaned, please use Room 3. |
| after | After the training session, there will be a short quiz. |
| before | Please wash your hands before returning to work. |
| since | Since the new system was introduced, complaints have dropped. |
| until | Wait here until your name is called. |
At Level 1, you are developing this skill. You do not need to write complex sentences in every line, but you should include some in your writing. Mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences makes your writing more interesting to read.
Exam Tip: Try to include at least 2–3 complex sentences in each writing task. A good way to start is to begin a sentence with "Although...", "Because...", "When...", or "If..." and then finish it with the main point.
A fragment is an incomplete sentence — it is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
| Fragment | Problem | Corrected |
|---|---|---|
| Running late again. | No subject — who is running late? | I was running late again. |
| Because the bus was cancelled. | No main clause — what happened because of this? | I was late because the bus was cancelled. |
| The new coffee machine in the break room. | No verb — what about it? | The new coffee machine in the break room is now working. |
A run-on is two sentences joined together without proper punctuation or a joining word.
| Run-On | Problem | Corrected |
|---|---|---|
| The meeting finished late I missed my bus. | Two sentences with no punctuation between them | The meeting finished late, so I missed my bus. |
| I sent the email he did not reply I sent it again. | Three sentences all pushed together | I sent the email, but he did not reply. I sent it again. |
A comma splice is when two complete sentences are joined with only a comma (without a joining word).
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