What is defined as a sentence having one independent clause and at least one dependent clause?

A complex sentence is defined as having one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The independent clause can stand alone as a complete thought, while the dependent clause provides additional information and cannot stand alone. This structure allows for the expression of more nuanced ideas, as the dependent clause often modifies or adds context to the independent clause.

In contrast, a simple sentence consists of only one independent clause with no dependent clauses. A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction but does not include any dependent clauses. Lastly, a compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, combining elements from both compound and complex sentences.