英語的復合句一般分為三大類型：名詞性從句、形容詞性從句和副詞性從句。
名詞性從句
在整個復合句中起名詞作用，充當主語、賓語、表語和同位語等的各種從句，統稱為名詞性從句。名詞性從句主要有以下幾種：
1. that 引導的從句
e.g. It is reported that one third of Guangzhou citizens planto buy a private car. (據報道，三分之一的廣州市民打算購買私家車。)
2. whether/if 引導的從句
e.g. Whether motorcycles should be banned in Guangzhouhas become an issue of controversy.(廣州是否禁摩托車成了有爭議的話題。)
3. how/why/when/where引導的從句
e.g. This essay aims to explore why so manywhite collar workers suffer from insomnia. (本文將探討為什么這么多白領失眠的原因。)
4. who/whom/whose/what/which引導的從句
e.g. Who should be responsible for theenvironmental degradation is still unknown.(誰對環境惡化負責還不清楚。)
形容詞性從句
具有形容詞功能，在復合句中做定語的從句被稱之為形容詞性從句或定語從句。被修飾的名詞、詞組或代詞被稱為先行詞。形容詞性從句分為兩種類型：
由關系代詞 who, whom, whose, that, which, as引導的從句。
例如：People who arestrongly against human cloning claim that it is immoral and unethical.(強烈反對克隆人的人們認為這樣做不道德和不合倫理)
副詞性復合句
因為壞人帶槍，如果警察不配槍市民就很危險了
As evil people always have guns, it is dangerous for citizens if the police do not carry them.
由于女性的體質不同于男性，她們在軍隊的激烈競爭中比不過男性
Because women’s physiques are different, they are not so capable as men in the fiercely competitive world of the military.
如果我們推倒老建筑，我們就破壞了文化遺產和傳統價值
If we tear down the old building, we are ruining the culture heritage and the traditional values as well.
記者應該相當的客觀，盡管完全客觀是難以達到的，因為每個人都有自己的觀點和意見。
Journalists should be reasonably objective, though complete objectivity will be different to achieve, as everyone has their own opinions and standpoints.
就象年輕人可以停下工作享受休閑時光，老年人也應該被允許繼續工作
Just as young people can choose to stop working and enjoy their leisure time, old people should also be allowed to continue working.