英语的复合句一般分为三大类型：名词性从句、形容词性从句和副词性从句。
名词性从句
在整个复合句中起名词作用，充当主语、宾语、表语和同位语等的各种从句，统称为名词性从句。名词性从句主要有以下几种：
1. that 引导的从句
e.g. It is reported that one third of Guangzhou citizens planto buy a private car. (据报道，三分之一的广州市民打算购买私家车。)
2. whether/if 引导的从句
e.g. Whether motorcycles should be banned in Guangzhouhas become an issue of controversy.(广州是否禁摩托车成了有争议的话题。)
3. how/why/when/where引导的从句
e.g. This essay aims to explore why so manywhite collar workers suffer from insomnia. (本文将探讨为什么这么多白领失眠的原因。)
4. who/whom/whose/what/which引导的从句
e.g. Who should be responsible for theenvironmental degradation is still unknown.(谁对环境恶化负责还不清楚。)
形容词性从句
具有形容词功能，在复合句中做定语的从句被称之为形容词性从句或定语从句。被修饰的名词、词组或代词被称为先行词。形容词性从句分为两种类型：
由关系代词 who, whom, whose, that, which, as引导的从句。
例如：People who arestrongly against human cloning claim that it is immoral and unethical.(强烈反对克隆人的人们认为这样做不道德和不合伦理)
副词性复合句
因为坏人带枪，如果警察不配枪市民就很危险了
As evil people always have guns, it is dangerous for citizens if the police do not carry them.
由于女性的体质不同于男性，她们在军队的激烈竞争中比不过男性
Because women’s physiques are different, they are not so capable as men in the fiercely competitive world of the military.
如果我们推倒老建筑，我们就破坏了文化遗产和传统价值
If we tear down the old building, we are ruining the culture heritage and the traditional values as well.
记者应该相当的客观，尽管完全客观是难以达到的，因为每个人都有自己的观点和意见。
Journalists should be reasonably objective, though complete objectivity will be different to achieve, as everyone has their own opinions and standpoints.
就象年轻人可以停下工作享受休闲时光，老年人也应该被允许继续工作
Just as young people can choose to stop working and enjoy their leisure time, old people should also be allowed to continue working.