Which of the following is a complex sentence?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Although the winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait, the ferry arrived safely.
- Step 1: A complex sentence contains exactly one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. Step 2. In the sentence 'Although the winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait, the ferry arrived safely', 'Although the winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait' is subordinate, and 'the ferry arrived safely' is independent. Answer: Although the winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait, the ferry arrived safely. Why not the others: The sentence 'The winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait.' is simple, the sentence 'The winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait, and the ferry sailings were cancelled.' is compound, and the sentence 'The winds blew fiercely across the Cook Strait; nevertheless, the ferry arrived safely.' is compound with a conjunctive adverb.
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