What is the structure of the sentence? Gracefully, the dancer took a bow and smiled before she left the stage.

Question

A.
compound-complex

B.
complex

C.
compound

D.
simple

Answer 1

Hi Paula;

Gracefully, the dancer took a bow and smiled before she left the stage.

Let's break this up...

Gracefully is an adverb which is a non-issue herein.

the dancer took a bow ...This is an independent clause.  It needs nothing more.

before ...This is a subordinator, one of the many subordinators characteristic of complex sentences.

she left the stage ...This is a dependent clause connected to the subordinator.

 

For this to be a compound sentence, before would be and or another coordinator.

 

THE ANSWER IS B, COMPLEX.