Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences
Based on the clause structure, the sentences in English can be divided into three different kinds: Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences.
Simple Sentence: A sentence that consists of only one subject and one finite verb is called a Simple Sentence.
Main Points :
1) It consists of one Subject and one Verb.
2) It expresses a complete thought.
3) It is also called an Independent Clause.
Compound Sentence (Two Main Clauses): A sentence that consists of two main or Independent Clauses is called a Compound Sentence.
Main Points:
1) It consists of two Main or Independent Clauses.
2) A comma (sometimes semicolon) is used before the conjunction.
3) Coordinating Conjunctions are used to join these clauses.
For example: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, neither….nor, both… and, not only …. but also.
Complex Sentence (With Subordinate Clause): A sentence that has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence.
Main Points:
1) It consists of one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
2) Subordinating Conjunctions (sometimes relative pronouns) are used to join these clauses.
3) If the sentence begins with a Subordinate Clause, a comma is used after this clause.
List of Subordinators are: because, after, although, if, before, since, though, unless, when, only if, whom, whoever, whichever, which, whichever.
For Making Compound Sentences
A) Synthesis to Compound only use a coordinator .
For example:
1) It was a rainy day. We played outside.
Ans. It was a rainy day yet we played outside.
2) He was caught. He was punished .
Ans. He was not only caught but also punished.
B)Complex to Compound: Remove the subordinator and use a coordinator.
For example:
1) Although he worked hard, he failed.
Ans. He worked hard but he failed.
2)Since he ran fast, he won the race.
Ans. He ran fast so he won the race.
C) Simple to Compound: Add another finite verb (a sentence) and use a coordinator.
For example:
1) Having no time to come here, he went home.
Ans. He had no time to come here and so he went home.
2) In spite of my warning him many times, he went to swim.
Ans. I warned him many times but he went to swim.
SOLVED
EXAMPLES : Making Compound Sentences.
1) I received your gift. I thank you for it. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. I received your gift and I thank you for it. ( Compound sentence)
2) You must work hard to win the match. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. You must work hard, or you will not win the match. ( Compound sentence)
3) Mohan was fired. He did not came to office. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Mohan was fired so he did not came to office.( Compound sentence)
4) I saw my uncle. I came here.( Simple sentence)
Ans. I saw my uncle so I came here. ( Compound sentence)
5) He went to Delhi so that he might attend the function. (Complex sentence)
Ans. He wanted to attend the function and so he went to Delhi. ( Compound sentence)
6) To avoid being caught, he must run. (Complex sentence)
Ans. He must run or he will not avoid being caught. ( Compound sentence)
7) It looked like a snake. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. It looked like a snake but it was not. ( Compound sentence)
8) Sir is having food, the boys stopped playing. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Sir had food and the boys stopped playing. ( Compound sentence)
9) I saw a beautiful peacock. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. I saw a peacock and it was beautiful. ( Compound sentence)
10) I met a person who was singer. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. I met a person and he was singer. ( Compound sentence)
11) Unless you come here, I will not give you money. (Complex sentence)
Ans. You must come here or I will not give you money. ( Compound sentence)
12) He will fulfill his promise. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. He promises something, and he will fulfill it. ( Compound sentence)
13) Though he is scholar, he did not pass in exam. (Complex sentence)
Ans. He is scholar, but did not pass in exam. ( Compound sentence)
14) If you help me, I will give you money. (Complex sentence)
Ans. You must help me, and then I will give you money. ( Compound sentence)
15) Though he did his best, he failed. (Complex sentence)
Ans. He did his best but failed. ( Compound sentence)
16) After telling Arun where to come, I went to call Karan. (Simple sentence)
Ans. I have told Arun where to come and went to call Karan. ( Compound sentence)
17) Teacher was pleased with my answer. (Simple sentence)
Ans. Teacher was pleased because of my answer. ( Compound sentence)
18) Being lazy he failed. (Simple sentence)
Ans. He was lazy; therefore he failed. ( Compound sentence)
19) The sun having risen the sky cleared.(Simple sentence)
Ans. The sun rose and the sky cleared. ( Compound sentence)
20) In spite of his repeated failures, he did not give up. (Simple sentence)
Ans. He repeatedly failed but he did not give up. ( Compound sentence)
21) Turning in order to look at my neighbour, I found a very famous face. (Simple sentence)
Ans. I turned in order to look at my neighbour and I found a very famous face. ( Compound sentence)
22) Having sold millions of copies worldwide, it has been translated into more than 40 languages. (Simple sentence)
Ans. It has sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages. ( Compound sentence)
FOR MAKING
COMPLEX SENTENCES :
A) Synthesis to Complex only use a subordinator .
For example:
1) Kapil knows. He can dance.
Ans. Kapil knows that he can dance.
2) She saw a robber. His face was cruel.
Ans. She saw a robber whose face was cruel.
B) Compound to Complex: Remove the coordinator and use a subordinator .
For example:
1) The book was on the table and it fell down.
Ans. The book which was on the table fell down.
2) He robbed the necklace and he confessed it.
Ans. He confessed that he robbed the necklace.
C) Simple to Complex: Add another finite verb (a sentence) and use a subordinator .
For example:
1) Seeing the child smiling she smiled back.
Ans. When she saw the child smiling she smiled back.
2) She saw a crying child.
Ans. She saw a child that was crying.
List of subordinators:
|
Type of sentences |
Subordinators |
Examples |
|
1) Similar /Time related
ideas |
when, which, where, that, how |
a)When he reached home, he saw his brother playing. B) Kapil knows that he can get good marks. C) Everybody knows how to study. |
|
2) Opposite / Contrast
ideas |
though, although, even though, even if |
Though I warned him
several times, he continued to do the same mistake. |
|
3) Condition/ Alternative ideas |
If, unless, do not reveal it. |
If you run fast, you
can catch the bus. |
|
4) Reason |
as, since, because, so that, so....that |
As we
saw the robber, he ran away. |
SOLVED EXAMPLES : Making Complex Sentences.
1) I went to school to show my Science journal. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Since I wanted to show my Science journal, I went to school. (Complex sentence)
2) Ants are small, yet very hard working. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. Though ants are small, they are very hard working. (Complex sentence)
3) He bought a book, and it was very nice. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. He bought a book which was very nice. (Complex sentence)
4) In spite of his stupidity, he proved his intelligence. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Though he is stupid, he proved his intelligence. (Complex sentence)
5) Owing to his bad health, he did not come to office. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. As he was in bad health, he did not come to office. (Complex sentence)
6) Having no homework to do, he went outside to play. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. As he had no homework to do, he went outside to play. (Complex sentence)
7) In case of not paying the fee, you will not be allowed to attend the school. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Unless you pay the fee, you will not be allowed to attend the school. (Complex sentence)
8) Having finished my homework, I went outside to play. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. After I finished my homework, I went outside to play. (Complex sentence)
9) We breathe to live. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. We breathe so that we can live. (Complex sentence)
10) A child was crying, and he went home. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. A child who was crying went home. (Complex sentence)
11) The police came, and the thieves started running. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. When the police came, the thieves started running. (Complex sentence)
12) He behaved like a scholar, but he was not. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. He behaved as if he was scholar. (Complex sentence)
13) You must study hard, or you will not pass in exam. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. Unless you study hard, you will not pass in exam. (Complex sentence)
14) I opened the bag and found cash in it. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. As soon as I opened the bag, I found cash in it. (Complex sentence)
15) You must complete your homework, and then you can watch Television. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. If you complete your homework, you can watch Television. (Complex sentence)
16) It was a great honour to Sanjay to be allowed to give speech. (Simple sentence)
Ans. It was a great honour to Sanjay because he was allowed to give speech. ( Complex sentence)
17) Coming across a nest, they had to carefully remove the eggs from the nest. ( Simple Sentence)
Ans. When they came across a nest, they had to carefully remove the eggs from the nest. (Complex sentence)
18) Bertha saw the wolf and it was stealing towards her. (Compound sentence)
Ans. Bertha saw the wolf which was stealing towards her. (Complex sentence)
19) She was very good and she might be allowed inside the garden. (Compound sentence)
Ans. She was so good that she might be allowed inside the garden. (Complex sentence)
20)There were no dogs but there were other small animals in the garden. ( Compound sentence)
Ans. Though there were no dog there were other small animals in the garden. ( Complex sentence)
21) You talk or you will not go outside. (Make compound sentence)
Ans. If you don't talk, you can go outside. (Complex sentence)
22) Now I have no time for anything else? Wish to play cricket. (Compound sentence)
Ans. Now I have no time for anything else as I wish to play cricket. (Complex sentence)
23)The painting is a visible form of very deep thought and we realise that. (compound sentence)
Ans. We realise that the painting is a visible form of very deep thought. (Complex sentence)
24)The female turtle returns to lay her eggs and that is in the same place where she was born. (Compound sentence)
Ans. The female turtle returns to lay her eggs in the same place where she was born. (Complex sentence)
25) Mummy will know as I have eaten all cake. (Compound sentence)
Ans. Mummy will know because I’ve eaten all cake. (Complex sentence)
26) The artist was in his nineties and he passed away. (Compound sentence)
Ans. The artist was in his nineties when he passed away. (Complex sentence)
27) A turtle spotted laying eggs is allowed to live. (Simple sentence)
Ans. If a turtle is spotted when she is laying eggs, she is allowed to live. (Complex sentence)
28) Books being the main source of education results in creating Genius. (Simple sentence)
Ans. Books is the main source of education which results in creating Genius. (Complex sentence)
29) Going to the market I got headache. (Simple sentence)
Ans. When I go to the market I I got headache. (Complex sentence)
30) Her eyes were shining brightly, but her face had lost its colour. (Compound sentence)
Ans. Though her eyes were shining brightly, her face had lost its colour. (Complex sentence
31) His father, a boatman, also served as a priest in temple. (Simple sentence)
Ans. His father was a boatman but he also served as a priest in temple. (Compound sentence)
32) People of many countries have enjoyed Cricket match, a well known sport. ( Simple sentence)
Ans. Cricket match is a well known sport that people of many countries have enjoyed. (Complex sentence)
33) The king was convinced by none of these answers and gave the reward to none. (Compound sentence)
Ans. As the king was convinced by none of these answers, he gave the reward to none. (Complex sentence)
34) Everyone was very happy but I was not. (Compound sentence)
Ans. Though everyone was very happy, I was not. (Complex sentence)
|
|
Simple |
Compound |
Complex |
|
Time
|
ing / on + ing / after
+ ing / while + ing Seeing his boss, he started
to do work. |
And/ and so/ and then. He saw his boss and started to do work. He came late and so he cannot attend class. |
all 'wh', words/ that/ Before/ After. When he saw his boss, he
started to do work. |
|
Reason
|
ing / by + ing / to + verb. Seeing the tiger,
hunter ran away. |
So He saw the tiger so he ran away. |
As / since / so .... that / because / so that / as soon as. He ran away because he saw the tiger. He is
so weak that he cannot walk. |
|
Contrast |
In spite of + ing In spite of studying well, he failed. |
But/ yet He
studied well but he failed. |
Though / although / even though Though
he studied well, he failed. |
|
Condition |
without + ing Without
studying well, you will fail. |
Or / ( very...and therefore.... cannot) Study well or you will fail. He is very smart and therefore he came first in
class. |
if / unless Unless you study well, you will fail. If you study well, you will get
good marks. |
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