Simple sentence: A Simple sentence is also called an independent clause. It contains a Subject and a Verb, and it expresses a complete thought.

E.g.

a) Some students like to study in the morning.

b) Mother ordered a birthday cake.

Compound sentence: A compound sentence consists of two main clauses of equal importance, joined together with a conjunction.

e.g.

a) I like coffee and she likes tea.

b) I can go to college or study at home.

Complex sentence: A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

e.g.

a) After the storm hit the town, trees lay broken in the streets.

b) I am glad to know that he had succeeded.

Conversion of simple sentences into complex sentences

a) By expanding a word or a phrase into a noun clause

1.

Simple

:

I was glad to know of his success.

 

Complex

:

I was glad to know that he had succeeded.

2.

Simple

:

He pleaded ignorance of the law.

 

Complex

:

He pleaded that he was ignorant of the law.

3.

Simple

:

The report of his failure has surprised us all.

 

Complex

:

The report that he has failed has surprised us all.

b) By expanding a word or a phrase into an adjective clause

1.

Simple

:

A dead man tells no tales.

 

Complex

:

A man who is dead tells no tales.

2.

Simple

:

The boy with the blue shirt is our Captain.

 

Complex

:

The boy who is wearing blue shirt is our Captain.

3.

Simple

:

I still remember the joys of my childhood.

 

Complex

:

I still remember the joys which I experienced in my childhood.

c) By expanding a word or a phrase into an adverb clause

1.

Simple

:

He felt sorry on finding out his mistake. (Time)

 

Complex

:

He felt sorry when he found out his mistake.

2.

Simple

:

Being rich, he can afford this expensive treatment. (Cause/ reason)

 

Complex

:

As he is rich, he can afford this expensive treatment.

3.

Simple

:

He is too simple minded to see through the game. (Result/ consequence)

 

Complex

:

He is so simple minded that he can not see through the game.

4.

Simple

:

He is working day and night to improve his prospects. (Purpose)

 

Complex

:

He is working day and night so that he may improve his prospects.

Conversion of complex sentences into simple sentences

a) By converting a noun clause into a word or a phrase

1.

Complex

:

I am responsible for what I do.

 

Simple

:

I am responsible for my actions.

2.

Complex

:

He wanted to know why he had been dismissed.

 

Simple

:

He wanted to know the reason for his dismissal.

b) By converting an adjective clause into a word or a phrase

1.

Complex

:

All that glitters is not gold.

 

Simple

:

All glittering things are not gold.

2.

Complex

:

He can not forget the losses that he has suffered.

 

Simple

:

He can not forget the losses suffered by him.

c) By converting an adverb clause into a word or a phrase

1.

Complex

:

You may do it when you please.

 

Simple

:

You may do it at your pleasure.

2.

Complex

:

Because he was ill, he stayed at home.

 

Simple

:

He stayed at home on account of his illness.

Conversion of Simple sentences into Compound sentences

a) By using Cumulative Conjunctions like, and, not only…but also, etc.

1.

Simple

:

Taking off his clothes, he jumped into the river.

 

Compound

:

He took off his clothes and jumped into the river.

2.

Simple

:

In addition to useful advice, he gave me financial help.

 

Compound

:

He gave me not only a useful advice but also a financial help.

b) By using Adversative Conjunctions like, but, still, yet, etc.

1.

Simple

:

In spite of very bad weather, they succeeded in conquering Mt. Everest.

 

Compound

:

The weather was very bad, still they succeeded in conquering Mt. Everest.

2.

Simple

:

He had every qualification for the post except sincerity.

 

Compound

:

He had ever qualification for the post, but he was not sincere.

c) By using Alternative Conjunctions like, or, otherwise, else, etc.

1.

Simple

:

You must take rich diet to gain weight.

 

Compound

:

You must take rich diet, or you will not gain weight.

2.

Simple

:

Take another step at the peril of your life.

 

Compound

:

Don’t take another step, else your life will be at the peril.

Conversion of Compound sentences into simple sentences

a) By using Prepositional phrase

1.

Compound

:

He is a Russian by birth, but he speaks Hindi like his mother tongue.

 

Simple

:

In spite of being a Russian by birth, He speaks Hindi like his mother tongue.

2.

Compound

:

This book is not beautifully printed, but is free from mistakes also.

 

Simple

:

Besides being beautifully printed, this book is free from mistakes.

b) By using Participle

1.

Compound

:

The umpire found the light poor and decided to call off the day’s play.

 

Simple

:

Finding the light poor, the umpire decided to call off the day’s play.

c) By using Infinitive

1.

Compound

:

You must observe austerity, or you will not become morally strong.

 

Simple

:

You must observe austerity to become morally strong.

Conversion of Compound sentences into complex sentences

a) Compound sentences with Cumulative conjunctions, and

1.

Compound

:

He wanted to win the prize and worked hard.

 

Complex

:

He worked hard so that he might win the prize.

b) Compound sentences with Adversative conjunctions like but, still, however, nevertheless etc.

1.

Compound

:

Attend you classes regularly, or you will fall short of attendance.

 

Complex

:

If you do not attend your classes regularly, you will fall short of attendance.

c) Compound sentences with Alternative conjunctions like or, otherwise, else, therefore either…or etc.

1.

Compound

:

I can not afford to buy many books, therefore I usually study in the library.

 

Complex

:

Since I can not afford to buy many books, I usually study in the library.

Conversion of Complex sentences into Compound sentences

a) By using Cumulative conjunctions, and

1.

Complex

:

Everybody knows that man is mortal.

 

Compound

:

Man is mortal and this fact everybody knows.

2.

Complex

:

If I am right, I should be supported.

 

Compound

:

I may be right and in that case I should be supported.

b) By using Adversative conjunctions like but, still, however, nevertheless etc.

1.

Complex

:

Although they lost the match, they were not disgraced.

 

Compound

:

They lost the match, but they were not disgraced.

c) By using Alternative conjunctions like or, otherwise, else, either…or etc.

1.

Complex

:

If you don’t surrender your arms immediately, you will be shot dead.

 

Compound

:

Surrender your arms immediately, or you will be shot dead.

Exercise 1. Identify the following sentences, whether Simple, Compound or Complex Sentence

  1. All the flights have been cancelled owing to the bad weather.
  2. He had many faults, but he was a good man at heart.
  3. It has been ages since I saw you.
  4. The fact that he is silent proves his guilt.
  5. He finished his work and put away his books.

Ans. Simple sentence

Ans. Compound sentence

Ans. Complex sentence

Ans. Simple sentence

Ans. Compound sentence

SENTENCES FOR PRACTICE

Exercise 2. Identify the following sentences, whether Simple, Compound or Complex Sentence

  1. Unless he completes the work, he will be punished.
  2. He could not win a scholarship due to his carelessness.
  3. You must work hard or you will not pass.
  4. The fruits in the glass bowl are for the guests.
  5. The flowers in the vase have wilted because of the heat.
  6. All the flights have been cancelled owing to the bad weather.
  7. The fruits in the glass bowl are for the guests.
  8. It has been ages since I saw you.
  9. The flowers in the vase have wilted because of the heat.
  10. When the sun had risen, we resumed our journey.

Exercise 3. Change into Simple sentences

  1. You must work hard or you will not pass the exam.
  2. The doctor admitted that he was helpless.
  3. No one likes a man who tells lies.
  4. I shall look after her as she stays here.
  5. The more you earn, the more you should save.

Ans. You must work hard to pass the exam.

Ans. The doctor admitted his helplessness.

Ans. No one likes a liar.

Ans. I shall look after her during her stay here.

Ans. Savings should be in proportion to earnings.

SENTENCES FOR PRACTICE

Exercise 4. Change into Simple sentences

  1. As the decision has already been taken, it is no point discussing the issues.
  2. Most of the poems that Kalidas wrote have been preserved.
  3. He has treated me most unjustly, still I have not grumbled.
  4. The judge found him guilty and sentenced him to three years’ rigorous imprisonment.
  5. The spring was late to arrive and the garden was still wearing a deserted look.
  6. He cried as loudly as he could.

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