Compound vs. Complex Sentences: Why "The Trek Across New South Island..." Is Compound

If you've ever wondered whether the sentence "The trek across New South Island is exhausting but the gorgeous views make it worth the effort" is complex or compound, the answer is clear: it's a compound sentence. Let's break down why, so you can confidently identify sentence structures in your own writing.

The Short Answer

This sentence contains two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction "but." That makes it a compound sentence—not a complex sentence.

Clause-by-Clause Breakdown

1. Clause 1: "The trek across New South Island is exhausting"
   • Subject: "The trek across New South Island"
   • Verb: "is"
   • Complete thought? Yes. It can stand alone as a sentence.
2. Clause 2: "the gorgeous views make it worth the effort"
   • Subject: "the gorgeous views"
   • Verb: "make"
   • Complete thought? Yes. It can also stand alone.

Since both clauses are independent and they're linked by a coordinating conjunction (but), the sentence is compound.

Compound vs. Complex: The Key Difference

What Is a Dependent Clause?

A dependent (subordinate) clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone because it begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. It leaves the reader waiting for the rest of the thought.

• Dependent: "Because the trek is exhausting..." (incomplete)
• Independent: "The trek is exhausting." (complete)

How to Make the Original Sentence Complex

You could restructure it to create a complex sentence by subordinating one clause:

• Complex: "Although the trek across New South Island is exhausting, the gorgeous views make it worth the effort."
• Complex: "The trek across New South Island is exhausting, yet the gorgeous views make it worth the effort." (Still compound—"yet" is coordinating)
• Complex: "Because the trek across New South Island is exhausting, many hikers quit early." (Now "because..." is dependent)

Why It Matters

Understanding sentence structure helps you:

• Vary your writing rhythm (mix simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences)
• Avoid run-ons and fragments
• Punctuate correctly (compound sentences need a comma before the conjunction; complex sentences need a comma after an introductory dependent clause)
• Clarify logical relationships between ideas (contrast, cause/effect, condition, time)

Quick Test for Your Own Writing

Cover the conjunction. Can both parts stand alone as complete sentences? Yes = Compound. No = likely Complex (if one part is a fragment starting with a subordinator).