This report investigates systematically the effect of structural parameters on the left-handed behavior of a combined structure. The combined structure consists of a ‘cut-wire pair’, providing a negative magnetic permeability μ<0, and a ‘continuous wire’, yielding a negative electric permittivity ε<0. The left-handed metamaterials were designed, fabricated and measured in the microwave-frequency regime. It was found that the width of the continuous wire as well as the distance between the substructures play an important role in determining whether negative refractive properties (in other words, left-handed behavior) are obtained or not. Additionally, we studied the influence of the lattice constant on the electromagnetic response of the combined structure. The actual measurements are compared with numerical simulation values to show good coincidence. Finally, we designed and simulated an electromagnetic absorber made of metamaterials. It is expected that this work will allow us to optimize appropriate characteristic parameters even without avoiding trial and error fabrications.