A compound-complex sentence combines the features of both a compound sentence (two or more independent clauses) and a complex sentence (at least one dependent clause).

When I got to our house, I rushed into the yard and called out to her, but no answer came.

— Jamaica Kincaid, "The Circling Hand"

This sentence begins with a dependent clause ("When I got to our house"). The first independent clause contains a compound verb (rushed and called). The two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction but.

You can group ideas more effectively and coherently with compound-complex sentences than with other sentence types. However, this type of sentence can become too complicated. As you revise, pay attention to the clarity of compound-complex sentences; if necessary, divide them into shorter, simpler sentences.

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