What Makes Up a Complex Sentence?

A complex sentence comprises a main (independent) clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses. The main clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone, while the subordinate clause relies on the main clause for meaning and context. In Serbian grammar, complex sentences typically involve conjunctions and pronouns that connect the clauses and hold the overall structure together.

Categorizing Subordinate Clauses in Serbian Grammar

Subordinate clauses in Serbian grammar are grouped into three primary categories:

1. Adverbial Clauses: These clauses provide additional information about an action, such as time, cause, result, purpose, or condition.
2. Adjective Clauses: This type of clause provides extra information about a noun or pronoun.
3. Noun Clauses: These clauses function as a noun within the main clause, serving as the subject, object, or complement.

Adverbial Clauses in Complex Sentences

Adverbial clauses are essential components of complex sentences in Serbian grammar, often adding context or providing additional information related to the main clause. Here are some common types of adverbial clauses:

1. Temporal Clauses: These clauses describe when an action took place. In Serbian, conjunctions such as dok (while), kad (when), and pre nego što (before) are commonly used.
2. Causal Clauses: These clauses convey the cause or reason behind the action in the main clause. Causal clauses often use conjunctions like zato što (because), pošto (since), and jer (for).
3. Conditional Clauses: These clauses express a condition required for the main clause. Ako (if) is a commonly used conjunction in conditional clauses.

Adjective Clauses in Complex Sentences

Adjective clauses function as a modifier for a noun or pronoun in the main clause and are introduced by relative pronouns, including koji (who, which), čiji (whose), and što (that). An example of an adjective clause in a complex sentence would be:

Čovek, koji živi pored mene, je lekar (The man who lives next to me is a doctor).

Noun Clauses in Complex Sentences

Noun clauses can play various roles – subject, object, or complement – within the main clause. They are often introduced by conjunctions such as da (that) and ako (if), or question words like što (what) and ko (who). An example of a noun clause functioning as the object would be:

Ne znam da li će doći (I don’t know whether he will come).

Key Points to Remember

In summary, complex sentences in Serbian grammar involve a combination of main and subordinate clauses that relay nuanced meaning and context. Familiarize yourself with the different types of subordinate clauses – adverbial, adjective, and noun – and the conjunctions and pronouns used to connect them. By grasping these concepts, you can effectively navigate and construct complex sentences in the Serbian language.