Chapter 17 – Simple, Complex and Compound Sentences
Let us recall some important points that we learnt in the previous unit.
• Gerunds, Infinitives and Participles are Non Finite Verbs.
• Phrase is a group of words which does not contain a Finite Verb.
• Clause is a group of words which has a Finite Verb.
• Finite Verbs indicate the tense and time of actions.
• Non Finite Verbs do not indicate tense and time of actions.
Kinds of Sentences
1. A Simple sentence consists of only one Finite Verb.
2. A Complex sentence has one Main Clause and one or more Subordinate Clauses.
3. A Compound sentence has two Main Clauses combined by a Coordinating
Conjunction.
Examples
Simple Sentences
Ramu is too poor to buy a bicycle.
Despite his old age, Raghav walked fast.
In the event of not consulting a doctor, you cannot recover.
On seeing the teacher, the children stood up.
Due to a heavy downpour, the match was cancelled.
Complex Sentences
Ramu is so poor that he cannot buy a bicycle.
Though Raghav was old, he walked fast.
Unless you consult a doctor, you cannot recover.
As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up.
As there was a heavy downpour, the match was cancelled.
Compound Sentences
Ramu is very poor and he cannot buy a bicycle.
Raghav was old yet he walked fast.
You consult a doctor otherwise you cannot recover.
The children saw the teacher and they stood up.
There was a heavy downpour and the match was cancelled.
Tips to Identify Sentences
Simple Sentence – Contains only one finite verb.
Complex Sentence – Contains one main clause and one subordinate clause.
Compound Sentence – Contains two main clauses joined by conjunctions like and,
but, yet, or, otherwise.
Transformation Table
Sentence Type Key Words Example
Simple to Complex because, though, unless, On seeing the teacher, the
as soon as children stood up → As
soon as the children saw
the teacher, they stood
up.
Complex to Compound and, but, yet, otherwise Though Raghav was old,
he walked fast → Raghav
was old yet he walked
fast.
Compound to Simple by using phrases There was a heavy
downpour and the match
was cancelled → Due to a
heavy downpour, the
match was cancelled.
Exercise A – Transform the Sentences
1. On seeing the teacher, the children stood up. (into Complex)
2. At the age of six, Varsha started learning music. (into Complex)
3. As Varun is a voracious reader, he buys a lot of books. (into Simple)
4. Walk carefully lest you will fall down. (into Complex)
5. Besides being a dancer, she is a singer. (into Compound)
6. He is sick but he attends the rehearsal. (into Simple)
7. If Meena reads more, she will become proficient in the language. (into Compound)
8. He confessed that he was guilty. (into Simple)
9. The boy could not attend the special classes due to his mother’s illness. (into
Compound)
10. He followed my suggestion. (into Complex)
Exercise B – Combine the Sentences
1. Radha was ill. She was not hospitalised.
2. The students were intelligent. They could answer the questions correctly.
3. I must get a visa. I can travel abroad.
4. I saw a tiger. It was wounded.
5. There was a bandh. The shops remained closed.
Answers
Answers for Exercise A
1. As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up.
2. When Varsha was six years old, she started learning music.
3. Being a voracious reader, Varun buys a lot of books.
4. If you do not walk carefully, you will fall down.
5. She is a dancer and she is also a singer.
6. In spite of his sickness, he attends the rehearsal.
7. Meena must read more or she will not become proficient in the language.
8. He confessed his guilt.
9. The boy’s mother was ill and so he could not attend the special classes.
10. It is true that he followed my suggestion.
Answers for Exercise B
1. Though Radha was ill, she was not hospitalised.
2. The students were intelligent, so they could answer the questions correctly.
3. I must get a visa before I can travel abroad.
4. I saw a wounded tiger.
5. There was a bandh and the shops remained closed.
Conclusion
Simple, Complex and Compound sentences improve sentence variety and writing
skills. Learning transformations helps students write better English sentences.