Sentences Simple, Compound and Complex
Simple Sentences :
A simple sentence has only one clause. It has only one finite verb.
For example:
The teacher has started teaching. (one finite verb - one clause)
We went on a long journey by car. (one finite verb - one clause)
A simple sentence may have a compound subject, that is, more than one noun.
For example:
The old man and his son sat the camel.
The teachers and the students have assembled in the hall.
These sentences qualify as simple sentences because each has only one finite verb.
A. Underline the verbs in these sentences. Then tick only the simple sentences.
1. The children laughed and played merrily on the swings.
= The children laughed and played merrily on the swings. [ ]
2. My mother baked a cake and served it hot.
= My mother baked a cake and served it hot. [ ]
3. The company will launch its new car soon.
= The company will launch its new car soon. [✓]
4. My father and mother encourage me to do my work independently.
= My father and mother encourage me to do my work independently. [✓]
5. Our images looked funny in the magic mirrors.
= Our images looked funny in the magic mirrors. [✓]
6. The clouds thundered all night.
= The clouds thundered all night. [✓]
7. I have stopped believing in her since that experience.
= I have stopped believing in the since that experience. [✓]
8. I can play the piano and sing classical songs.
= I can play piano and sing classical songs.
9. The glasses and the plates have been washed clean.
= The glasses and the plates have washed clean. [✓]
10. The juggler juggled three balls at the same time and amazed everyone.
= The juggler juggled three balls at the same time and amazed everyone.
Compound Sentences :
A Compound sentence has two or more main clauses, closely related in idea and of equal importance. The main clauses may be joined by a coordinating conjunction for, and, nor, but, or, yet or so, or by corelative(paired) conjunctions such as either...or, neither...nor, whether...or, rather...than, not only....but also, and both...and.
For example:
The girls chopped the vegetables and the boys cooked them.
Every day, I am woken up either by my alarm clock or by my pet Bosco.
The mangoes were not fully ripe yet Dad bought them and Mom ate them.
The clauses in a compound sentence can be separated and stand alone as complete sentences as each clause has its subject and a finite verb. We can split the compound sentences given above into simple sentences.
The girls chopped the vegetables. The boys cooked them.
Every day, I am woken by my alarm clock. Every day, I am woken up by my pet Bosco.
The mangoes were not fully ripe. Dad bought them. Mom ate them.
B. Read the compound sentences and underline the two clauses.
1. I jog every day, but I am not up to any outdoor activity today.
= I jog every day , but I am not up to any outdoor activity today.
2. I lost my wallet, so I borrowed money from my sister.
= I lost my wallet, so I borrowed money from my sister.
3. I do not know whether they will prefer to fly to Gantok or go by train.
= I do not know whether they will prefer to fly to Gantok or go by train.
4. I left their company, for they were not very honest boys.
= I left their company, for they were not very honest boys.
5. We reached quite early for the show, yet we did not get good seats.
= We reached quite early for the show, yet we did not get good seats.
6. She neither lies nor does she have any other bad habits.
= She neither lies nor does she have any other bad habits.
7. You should not only eat a balanced diet, but also exercise regularly.
= You should not only eat a balanced diet, but also exercise regularly.
8. The movie did not have any songs, nor did it have any violence.
= The movie did not have any songs, nor did it have any violence.
9. The residents joined hands, and together they cleaned up the neighbourhood park.
= The residents joined hands, and together they cleaned up the neighbourhood park.
10. The hall was so crowded that people were feeling suffocated.
= The hall was so crowded that people were feeling suffocated.
Complex sentences :
A complex sentence is made up of a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
The subordinate clause is linked with the main clause by a subordinate conjunction.
For example:
We had reached before the plane landed.
The bus is late because it had a flat tyre.
I will not call you unless it is urgent.
The subordinating conjunctions are when, after, before, whenever, while, if, until, unless, still, although, though, because, since, as, where and wherever.
D. Underline the subordinate clauses in these sentences.
1. I saw the team practicing in the field when I woke up in the morning.
= I saw the team practicing in the field when I woke up in the morning.
2. Before I boarded the train, I had made sure I had my ticket with me.
= Before I boarded the train, I had made sure I had my ticket with me.
3. You will not go in the rain as you have just recovered from fever.
= You will not go in the rain as you have just recovered from fever.
4. After my friends and I read about adventure sports, we decided to go parasailing.
= After my friends and I read about adventure sports, we decided to go parasailing.
5. I am not tired although I have walked three kilometres.
= I am not tired although I have walked three kilometres.
6. They have always hosted us on their farmhouse though we have never invited them.
= They have always hosted us their farmhouse though we have never invited them.
7. The clouds thundered all night, still it has not rained.
= The clouds thundered all night, still it has not
rained.
8. Dad was working on the laptop while Mum was talking on the phone.
= Dad was working on the laptop while Mum was talking on the phone.
9. As there are only a few oranges, you cannot serve juice to everyone.
= As there are only a few oranges, you cannot serve juice to everyone.
10. The prices of food grains are high though there has been a good harvest this year.
= The prices of food grains are high though there has been a good harvest this year.
E. Underline the main (independent) clauses in these sentences and circle the subordinate (dependent) clause.
1. You can play a board game when you are bored.
= You can play a board game (when you are bored).
2. Whenever you find time, please read my essay.
= (Whenever you find time), please read my essay.
3. My painting, which you framed for me, has been appreciated by everyone.
= My painting, (which you framed for me), has been appreciated by everyone.
4. The members of the board, whom you have already met once, will be present at the ceremony.
= The members of the board, (whom you have already met once), will be present at the ceremony.
5. The teacher checked our understanding of the previous lesson before she started the new lesson.
= The teacher checked our understanding of the previous lesson (before she started the new lesson).
6. My personality has changed completely after attended Sonia's summer camp.
= My personality has changed completely (after attended Sonia's summer camp).
7. We never complain about delays in home delivery of food because we understand the traffic conditions.
= We never complain about delay in home delivery of food (because we understand the traffic conditions).
8. She is an experienced surgeon who is renowned all over the world.
= She is an experiences surgeon (who is renowned all over the world).
9. There were gold coins found where the excavation was going on.
= There were gold coins found (where the excavation was going on).
10. My mother was in a hurry, so she forgot to switch on the oven to bake the cake.
= My mother was in a hurry, (so she forgot to switch on the oven to bake the cake).
11. You can visit the bank before you go to office.
= You can visit the bank (before you go to office).
12. The mountaineers did not leave the base camp as they had information about a blizzard.
= The mountaineers did not leave the base camp (as they had information about a blizzard).
13. Mr. Jha has set up a recycling unit because he wants to do something for the environment.
= Mr. Jha has set up a recycling unit (because he wants to do something for the environment).
14. Before you leave for school, make sure you have tidied up your room and polished your shoes.
= (Before you leave for school), make sure you have tidied up your room and polished your shoes.
15.I want to know whatever you do during your free hours in the hostel.
= I want to know (whatever you do during your free hours in the hostel).
F. Combined as instructed in brackets.
1. She came along. She had lot of work to do. (complex sentence)
= She came along as she had lot of work to do.
2. My dog was hungry. It was whimpering. (compound sentence)
= My dog was hungry and it was whimpering.
3. I will not get up. I will find a solution. (complex sentence)
= I will not get up until I will find a solution.
4. The car had no fuel. We travelled by the Metro. (complex sentence)
= We travelled by the Metro as the car had no fuel.
5. I will not believe you. You have lied before. (complex sentence)
= I will not believe you because you have lied before.
6. The girls may choose to join the navy. They may choose a career in the army. (compound sentence)
= The girls may either choose to join the navy or choose a career in the army.
7. He eats a big meal. He eats only one meal. (compound sentence)
= He eats a big and only one meal.
8. We are great friends. We think differently. (compound sentence)
= We are great friends but we think differently.
G. Add clauses , and change each simple sentence into both a compound and a complex sentence.
1. I did not do my homework.
= I did not do my homework and forgot to prepare for the test. (compound sentence)
= I did not do my homework because I was not well.
2. My mother dropped my sister at school.
= My mother went to my sister's school and dropped her there. (compound sentence)
= My mother dropped my sister at school as she was getting late. (complex sentence)
3. Hemant ate up the big burger.
= Hemant ate up the big burger but did not pay for it. (compound sentence)
= Hemant ate up the big burger as he was very much hungry. (complex sentence)
4. Meenal requested her father for a new laptop.
= Meenal needed a laptop and she requested her father for one. (compound sentence)
= Meenal requested her father for a new laptop as her old laptop was not working properly. (complex sentence)
5. The divers went deep into the sea.
= The divers dived and went deep into the sea. (compound sentence)
= The divers went deep into the sea as wanted to do some adventure. (complex sentence)
6. The tourists stood on the beach.
= The tourists stood on the beach and was taking some rest. (compound sentence)
= The tourists stood on the beach as they were tired. (complex sentence)
7. We are planning a trip to Nepal.
= We are planning a trip to Nepal and have our mind refreshed in the cold weather. (compound sentence)
= We are planning a trip to Nepal as we have got an unexpected leave for ten days. (complex sentence)
8. The teacher sent an email to my parents.
= The teacher sent an email and it was for my parents. (compound sentence)
= The teacher wanted to contact with my parents so he sent an email to my parents. (complex sentence)
9. I took deep breaths.
= I get tired and took deep breaths. (compound sentence)
= I took deep breaths when I was feeling suffocated. (complex sentence)
10. The sheep climbed up the hill.
= The sheep went upwards and climbed the hill. (compound sentence)
= As soon as the wolf chased it, the sheep climbed up the hill. (complex sentence)