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"compound-complex sentence"

By Richard Nordquist, About.com

Definition:

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Examples:

  • "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them . . . well, I have others."
    (Groucho Marx)

  • "Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either."
    (Gore Vidal)

  • "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot."
    (Steve Martin)

  • "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
    (Theodor Geisel)

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