A simple
sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a
subject, a verb, and a completed thought.
Examples
of simple sentences include the following:
1.
Ram waited for the train.
"Ram" = subject, "waited" = verb
2.
The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
3.
Sita
and Gita took the bus.
"Sita and Gita" = compound subject, "took" = verb
4.
I looked for Sita and Gita at the bus
station.
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb
A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause.
It is referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of
a compound or complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete
sentence.
A compound the sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or
complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating
conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of
the words "FAN BOYS":
§ For
§ And
§ Nor
§ But
§ Or
§ Yet
§ So
Examples
of compound sentences include the following:
1.
Ram waited for the train, but the train was late.
2.
I looked for Gita and Sita at the bus
station, but they arrived at the station before noon and left
on the bus before I arrived.
3.
Sita and Gita arrived at the bus
station before noon, and they left on the bus before I
arrived.
4.
Sita and Gita left on the bus before I
arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station.
Coordinating
conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compound sentences often
are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of
relationship between the two independent clauses in the sentence, they
sometimes do not indicate much of a relationship. The word "and," for
example, only adds one independent clause to another, without indicating how
the two parts of a sentence are logically related. Too many compound sentences
that use "and" can weaken writing.
Clearer
and more specific relationships can be established through the use of complex
sentences.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent
clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an
independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that
would make it a complete sentence.
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and
one or more dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a
sentence, but a dependent clause even though it has a subject and a verb cannot
stand alone.
Ø Because my
coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.
Ø
Because it was raining, the football match was cancelled.
Ø The football match was cancelled, because it was raining.
Ø Although he
was wealthy, he was still unhappy.
Ø She returned
the computer after she noticed it was damaged.
Ø Whenever a
price goes up, customers buy fewer products.
Ø Because I
had to catch the train, and as we were short on time, I forgot to pack my
toothbrush for our vacation.
Ø As she was
bright and ambitious, she became a manager in no time.
Ø Wherever you
go, you can always find beauty.
Ø Evergreen
trees are a symbol of fertility because they do not die in the winter.
Ø Although it
was very long, the movie was still enjoyable.
Ø You should
take your car in for a service because it's starting to make weird noises.
Ø The actor
was happy he got a part in a movie even though the part was small.
Ø After the tornado hit, there was very little left standing.
Ø The museum
was very interesting, as I expected.
Ø Now that
he's rich and famous, people make allowances for his idiosyncrasies.
Ø Even though
he's thoroughly trained, he still makes a lot of mistakes.
Ø Since winter
is coming, I think I'll knit a warm sweater because I'm always cold.
Ø When she was
younger, she believed in fairy tales.
Ø I have to
save this coupon in case I come back to the store tomorrow.
Ø Let’s go
back to Chez Nous because it's where we had our first date.
Ø Although my
friends begged me, I chose not to go to the reunion.
Ø As genes
change over time, evolution progresses.
Ø I really
didn’t like the movie even though the acting was good.
Dependent
clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence,
but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent
clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of
the most common subordinating conjunctions:
§ after
§ although
§ as
§ because
§ before
§ even
though
§ if
§ since
§ though
§ unless
§ until
§ when
§ whenever
§ whereas
§ wherever
§ while
A
complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent
clauses.
The
dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent
clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the dependent clause comes
first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses.
1.
Because Sita and Gita arrived at the
bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.
2.
While he waited at the train station, Ram
realized that the train was late.
3.
After they left on the bus, Sita and
Gita realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.
Conversely,
the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the dependent
clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the independent clause comes
first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses.
1.
I did not see them at the station
because Sita and Gita arrived at the bus station before noon.
2.
Ram realized that the train was late
while he waited at the train station.
3.
Sita and Gita realized that Ram was
waiting at the train station after they left on the bus.
Complex
sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex
sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main
parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers
that one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although"
conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and"
conveys.
The term periodic sentence is
used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a dependent clause and
ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the train
station, Ram realized that the train was late."
Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought
occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the
meaning that comes at the end.
Exercise
1 Rewrite the
following Simple Sentences as Compound Sentences:
Ø The old man being weak could not walk properly.
Ø His father in spite of being poor is a contended
man.
Ø She must work hard to be successful in the
examination.
Ø Our teacher is popular among students for his
diligence.
Ø But for his faults, he would have progressed
immensely.
Ø Visualizing a danger ahead, the traveller became
cautious.
Ø The student must accept his fault to escape his
punishment.
Ø The culprit ran away to escape his arrest.
Ø Taking off their clothes the children jumped into
the river.
Ø In the event of being late you will not be allowed
entry.
2 Rewrite the
following Simple Sentences as Complex Sentences:
Ø Nobody could find out the place of their stay.
Ø The purpose of his visit to this place is not
known.
Ø All the labourers set out for their homes at
sunset.
Ø On seeing the policeman, the thief fled away.
Ø You cannot succeed without working hard.
Ø Pious women are always respected by all.
Ø I do not know the way leading to his house.
Ø The guests sitting in the room could not hear his
voice.
Ø She hoped to be successful in the examination.
Ø A man fair in his dealings is always trusted.
3 Rewrite the following Complex Sentences as Compound
Sentences:
Ø I am confident that he is innocent in this matter.
Ø Unless he works hard, he cannot pass the examination.
Ø However hard work she may do she cannot pass the
examination.
Ø She is sure that he has stolen her purse.
Ø As the shopkeeper quarrels with every customer,
nobody likes him.
Ø If he does not improve his behaviour, he will lose
all his friends.
Ø Unless the culprit accepts his fault, he will not
be spared.
Ø She did not attend the office because she felt
unwell today.
Ø She has lost the book that she had purchased.
Ø If you do not attend the class you will not be
allowed to sit in the examination.
4 Rewrite the following Compound Sentences as Complex
Sentences:
Ø Let me reach my office and then I shall talk to
him.
Ø Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Ø The thief saw the policeman, so he ran away.
Ø She is feeling unwell so she cannot attend her
office today.
Ø The child felt hungry, so he started weeping.
Ø The news is very good but it is not true.
Ø Eat less and you will remain healthy.
Ø The old man is very rich but he is a miser.
Ø Children put on new clothes and went to see the
fair.
Ø Keep quiet or you will repent.
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