A complex sentence consists of one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and is typically introduced by a subordinating conjunction (such as "because," "although," "if," etc.).
In contrast, a compound sentence contains two or more main clauses that are usually connected by coordinating conjunctions (such as "and," "but," "or," etc.).
So, to summarize:
- Complex Sentence: One main clause + one or more subordinate clauses.
- Compound Sentence: Two or more main clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions.