James V. answered 7h
Harvard & Yale Alum, Adjunct Professor | Grammar & Writing Expert
Consider this powerful example of a compound-complex sentence that incorporates both a gerund phrase and a noun clause serving as the object of a preposition, followed by a breakdown of its components.
Example Sentence
After she finished the project, managing a large team felt very rewarding, and she realized she'd learned more fromhow they handled the last-minute crisis than from any textbook.
Sentence Breakdown
This sentence is compound-complex because it contains two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
1. The Complex Elements
- Dependent Clause: "After she finished the project"
- This clause starts with the subordinating conjunction after and cannot stand alone. It modifies the first independent clause, explaining when the action took place.
- Gerund Phrase: "managing a large team"
- This phrase acts as the subject of the first independent clause. The gerund is managing.
- Noun Clause: "how they handled the last-minute crisis"
- This entire clause functions as the object of the preposition from in the second independent clause.
2. The Compound Elements
- Independent Clause 1 (IC1): "managing a large team felt very rewarding"
- This is a complete thought that can stand on its own. It is modified by the preceding dependent clause.
- Coordinating Conjunction: "and"
- This joins the two independent clauses.
- Independent Clause 2 (IC2): "she realized she'd learned more from how they handled the last-minute crisis than from any textbook"
- This is also a complete thought that can stand on its own, and it contains the noun clause functioning as the object of the preposition from.
Second Example for Clarity
Here's another example to show how flexible the structure can be:
Because the lights went out suddenly, the performer discovered that singing acapella required extra concentration, butthe audience appreciated her improvisation from what she had learned in her stage fright course.
- Gerund Phrase (Subject of IC1): "singing acapella"
- Noun Clause (Object of Preposition 'from' in IC2): "what she had learned in her stage fright course"