SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX

Kinds of Sentences

There are three kinds of sentences according to their structure:

 

1. Simple Sentence:

It is a sentence which consists of a subject, a predicate and one and only one finite verb.

e.g. (i) There are chairs vacant here.

(ii) The policeman chased the thief.

(iii) We shall visit him next week.

2. Compound Sentence:

It is a sentence made up of two or more main or principal sentences or clauses joined together by coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators.

The Coordinators are: and, but, or, either, or, neither, nor, yet, therefore, hence, not only buy also, as well as, else, still, so, etc.

e.g. (i) Te man entered the train and sat near the window.

(ii) The dog barked at the stranger so he ran away.

(iii) I saw the match but I did not enjoy it.

3. Complex Sentence:

It is a sentence which consists of a main or principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses joined by subordinators or connectors.

The subordinators are: how, where, when, why, what, who, whose, which, that, since, if, as, because, though, although, as if, unless, until, before, than, etc.

e.g. (i) I told him that I was in a hurry to reach theater.

(ii) The deer runs faster than the cheetah.

(iii) Rajiv bought a new jacket which was made from animal skin.

Complex Sentences: (because, when, while, where, as, before, after, that, since, as soon as, no sooner, if, unless, as .... though, if .... though, though, even though, although, whether, so .... that, till, only if, so that, until, which, ………)

Compound Sentence: (and, but, or, not only ...... but also, either ..... or, neither ..... nor,  etc )

Conversion of Simple Sentences into Compound sentences

1.       Simple: Seeing a snake he ran away.

Compound: He saw a snake and ran away.

2.       Simple: Besides being intelligent she is beautiful.

Compound: She is intelligent and she is beautiful.

3.       Inspite of his enormous wealth but still he is sad.

Compound: He possess enormous wealth still he is sad.

4.       Simple: Standing with his grief he is optimistic (confident).

Compound: He is grievous but still he is optimistic.

5.       Simple: To avoid danger you must be very careful.

Compound: Either you must be careful otherwise you will meet danger.

Conversion of Compound Sentences into Simple Sentences

1.       I ate apple, I went to Cinema.

Eating apple I went to Cinema.

2.       He passed M.B.B.S. and became a doctor.

Having passed M.B.B.S. he became a doctor.

3.       You must study well or you will not get the first class mark.

You must study well to get the first class mark.

Conversion of Simple sentences into Complex sentences

1.       He doesn’t know the date of his marriage.

He doesn’t know when he had married.

2.       He expects first class in the medical examination.

He expects that he will get first class in the medical examination.

3.       A man of justice gets respect every where

A man of who justice gets respect very where

4.       The reason for his success is unknown.

The reason how he succeeded is unknown.

5.       On seeing a police thief ran away.

As soon as thief saw the police ran away.

Conversion on Complex Sentences into Simple Sentences

1.       Since he was tired he could not go to office.

On account of his tiredness, he could not go to office

2.       What he aced was seen by all

His action was seen by all.

3.       He student who studies well gets high marks

The well studying student gets high marks.

4.       He went to the college where he studied

He went to his old college.

5.       He replaced the old wall clock which was damaged.

He replaced the damaged wall clock.

6.       He ran fast the he might not miss the train

He ran fast to catch the train

7.       After I had reserved the tickets I returned to my house.

Having reserved the tickets I returned to house.

Compound to Complex

1.       Study well or you will fail

Unless you study well you will fail.

2.       He saw the name board and entered the hotel.

Seeing the name board, he entered that hotel.

3.       He was suffering from fever and he was admitted in the hospital.

Since he was feverish he was admitted in the hospital.

4.       He is strong but he is timid (scared).

Although he is strong, he is timid.

Complex to Compound

1.       I saw a monkey which was sitting on a tree.

I saw the monkey. It was sitting on a tree.

2.       If you go to Agra you can see Tajmahal.

Go to Agra you can see Tajmahal.

3.       I suspect that he has done the murder.

He has done the murder. I suspect him.

4.       Though the soldier was wounded, but he went to the battle field again.

The soldier was wounded. He went to the battle field again.

State which of the following sentences are compound and which are complex. In the case of a compound sentence, separate the coordinate clauses and mention the conjunction. If the sentence is complex, divide it into its clauses and state the principal clause and the subordinate clause.

1. Donald took out his pen and started writing.

2. The town in which I live is very large.

3. This is the house that Jack built.

4. The Commons passed the bill, but the Lords threw it out.

5. My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.

6. God made the country and man made the town.

7. She must weep or she will die.

8. He must have done his duty, for he is a conscientious man.

9. Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.

10. I went because I was invited.

Answers

1. Compound sentence; coordinate clauses – Donald took out his pen; he .started writing; conjunction – and

2. Complex sentence; principal clause – the town is very large; subordinate clause – in which I live

3. Complex sentence; principal clause – this is the house; subordinate clause – that Jack built

4. Compound sentence – coordinate clauses – the Commons passed the bill; the Lords threw it out; conjunction – but

5. Complex sentence; principal clause – my heart leaps up; subordinate clause – when I behold a rainbow in the sky.

6. Compound sentence; coordinate clauses – God made the country; man made the town; conjunction – and

7. Compound sentence; coordinate clauses – she must weep; she will die; conjunction – or

8. Compound sentence; coordinate clauses – he must have done his duty; he is a conscientious man; conjunction – for

9. Complex sentence; principal clause – it is folly to be wise; subordinate clause – where ignorance is bliss

10. Complex sentence; principal clause – I went; subordinate clause – because I was invited.  

Exercise:

Identify the kind of sentence, giving and appropriate reason for your choice:

1. I've been asked to bring back a vaccine for a horse.

2. But someone always catches me.

3. I don't know exactly how much it costs.

4. I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties.

5. But I couldn't find it.

6. The stores had all sorts of ties, but not the kind I was looking for.

7. Panting, I boarded the plane under the reproachful gaze of the other passengers.

8. Nature soothes and nurtures.

9. When I do, it leaves me in complete awe.

10. We went to a rocky beach and saw the spread of the majestic ocean.

11. It takes the shape that the water commands.

12. Remember, this too shall pass.

13. Their teamwork and perseverance which enriches the atmosphere.

14. Spider webs are delicate, yet very strong.

15. This will generate certain chemicals which enriches the atmosphere.

16. Sahyadri Adventure is a unique and perhaps the first of its kind adventure fiction in India.

17. I have a very high regard for Indian sports women who excel at the highest level.

18. This strategy looks easy but is difficult to implement.

19. Even though she is a complete player, there is scope for her to work on her forehand side.

20. What is important is not to get carried away.

21. Solar energy is clean energy as it emits no effluents of pollutants.

22. Germany does not have as many sunny days as India does.

23. Indian banks are still not fully confident about financing solar power projects.

24. What helped me was the scholarship by Sir Dorab Tata Trust.

25. She was one of the noblest parent I have met in my life.

26. He thinks out for himself, forms his own judgment and then takes his own decision.

27. He tried to explain the route by city bus.

28. Because I gave her a lift, she got to spend an extra two hours with him.

29. Hing or asafoeitida is a wonder spice.

30. As a dish cooks, the asafoetida graciously recedes into the background.

31. This colour coded plan doesn't feel like a diet.

32. That is what stimulates me.

33. The camera has been instrumental in my life in making friends with people from different walks of life.

34. I always wondered how they were done.

35. I don't think it is a correct work ethic.

36. Try and capture movements and moments.

37. Muslims hold the application on henna to be a meritorious act.

38. The ritual adorning the bride with henna is a sacred one.

39. This however, does not last long and cannot he considered as mehendi in its true sense.

40. Readymade patterns and blocks are available for quick and easy application.

Answers:

Simple Sentence: The given sentence is a Simple one because it contains one and only one finite verb.

1, 2, 5, 7, 13, 14, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 38, 40.

Compound Sentence: The given sentence is a compound sentence as it is made up of two simple sentences, each having its own finite verb governed by a subject and joined by a coordinator.

6, 8, 10, 16, 18, 26, 36, 39

Complex Sentence: The sentence is a complex one as it contains a main clause and a subordinate clause and a dependent clause introduced by a subordinator.

3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35.