Simple, Complex, and Compound Sentences
The sentences are classed in three categories depending on the number and types of finite
clauses.
i. Simple Sentence
ii. Compound Sentence
iii. Complex Sentence
i) Simple Sentence
The sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
Example:
Rahman (subject) plays (verb) football every afternoon.
In this type of sentence, there is only one independent clause and there might be multiple
dependent clauses joined by non-finite verbs (gerund, participle, infinitive. See Unit 3). But there
can be only one finite verb.
Example:
While going (non-finite verb: present participle) there, I (subject) met (finite verb) him.
Despite being (non-finite verb: present participle) sick, he attended (finite verb) the meeting.
There is no use of conjunction (to join clauses) in simple sentences. But joining words can be
used by ‘and’.
Bread and butter are my breakfast.
Rahman and Selim are two friends.
ii) Compound Sentence
In this type of sentence, there are multiple independent clauses and no dependent clause. All the
clauses are joined together by coordinating conjunctions. Such sentences have two finite verbs
and two subjects.
List of Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect two equal parts of a sentence. Here are they:
And, but, nor, or, so, yet
Examples:
I (subject) tried (finite verb) to speak Spanish, and my friend (subject) tried (finite verb) to speak
English.
Rahman (subject) played (finite verb) football, so Ria (subject) went (finite verb) for shopping.
iii) Complex Sentence
This type of sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one dependent clause. There
are two finite verbs joined by subordinating conjunction.
Subordinate conjunctions connect two unequal parts, e.g., dependent and independent clauses.
Here is the list of subordinating conjunctions:
Since, as, when, though, although, so that, whenever, because, than, whereas, that, wherever,
that, whether, if, though, which, till, while, unless, who, until, why, how, what
Examples:
When (subordinator) he (subject) handed (finite verb) in his homework, he (subject) forgot
(finite verb) to give the teacher the last page.
The teacher (subject) returned (finite verb) the homework after (subordinator) she (subject)
noticed (finite verb) the error.
The students (subject) are studying (finite verb) because (subordinator) they (subject) have
(finite verb) a test tomorrow.
Roy (subject) and Rahman (subject) went (finite verb) to the movies after (subordinator) they
(subject) finished (verb) studying.
Complex sentences with relative pronouns as subordinators/subordinating conjunctions:
The woman (subject), who (subordinate) my mom (subject) talked to, sells (verb) cosmetics.
The book (subject) that (subordinate) Ria (subject) read is (verb) on the shelf.
The town (subject) where (subordinate) I (subject) grew up is (verb) in Bangladesh.
Rules of Transforming Complex-Simple-Compound Sentences:
To Transform into Simple Sentence:
a) Use non-finite verb
b) Don’t use any conjunction.
c) Always maintain the meaning of the given sentence
To Transform into Compound Sentences:
a) Use coordinating conjunctions like and/but/or/and/so/and then
b) Use separate subjects and verbs for each clause
c) Always maintain the meaning of the given sentence
To Transform into Complex Sentence:
a) Use subordinating conjunctions like though/since/as/when/relative pronoun
b) Use separate subjects and verbs for each clause
c) Always maintain the meaning the of given sentence
Examples:
1. When/as/since/because (Complex) ---- verb+ing or being+v3 or because of (Simple) ---
and (Compound)
Example:
Complex: When he saw the police, he ran away.
Simple: Seeing the police he ran away.
Compound: He saw the police and ran away.
Complex: As he was ill, he could not come.
Simple: Being ill, he could not come. / Because of his illness, he could not come.
Compound: He was ill and so he could not come.
2. If/Unless (Complex) --- by+verb+ing/without+verb+ing (Simple) --- or (Compound)
Example:
Complex: If you work hard you will succeed.
Simple: By working hard you will succeed.
Compound: Work hard or you won’t succeed.
3. Relative pronoun (wh word/that) (Complex) ---- non-finite form/direct
adjective/adverb (Simple) --- and (Compound)
Example:
Complex: The sum which has been done by him was very hard.
Simple: The sum done by him was very hard. (Participle)
Compound: The sum was done by him and it was very hard.
Complex: Salam is a boy who is very intelligent.
Simple: Salam is a very intelligent boy.
Compound: Salam is a boy and he is very intelligent.
Complex: It was daylight when he woke up.
Simple: He woke up at daylight.
Compound: He woke up and it was daylight.
Complex: He admitted that he was guilty.
Simple: He admitted his guilt.
Compound: He admitted and he was guilty.
4. Though/Although (complex) --- inspite of/despite (simple) + but (compound)
Example:
Complex: Though he tried hard, he failed.
Simple: In spite of trying hard, he failed.
Compound: He tried hard but failed.
5. So... that (Complex) --- to infinitive (Simple) --- and (Compound)
Example:
Complex: We eat so that we can live well.
Simple: We eat to live well.
Compound: We eat and we live well.
Exercise A
Change the Simple sentences into Complex
1. I saw a beautiful girl.
2. Being sincere and hardworking, Mitu earned the reward.
3. She was too poor to educate her children.
4. I have informed him of his success.
5. In spite of his being tall, he does not play basketball.
Exercise B
Change the Complex sentences into Compound
1. Though he is not sick, he feels weak.
2. As soon as the electricity went out, the thief entered the house.
3. If you work hard, you will shine in life.
4. If you do it, you will die.
5. The man went home so that he could see his grandson.
Exercise C
Change the Compound sentences into Simple
1. I went to his home but he did not meet me.
2. He was ill and so he could not attend the meeting.
3. I woke up and received your phone call.
4. Work hard and you will be successful.
5. Sadman saw a snake and killed it at once.
Answer Key
A
1. I saw a girl who was beautiful.
2. As Mitu is sincere and hardworking, she earned the reward.
3. She was so poor that she could not educate her children.
4. I have informed him that he has succeeded.
5. Though he is tall, he does not play basketball.
B
1. He is not sick, yet he feels weak.
2. The electricity went out and the thief entered the house.
3. Work hard and you will shine in life
4. Do it and you will die.
5. The man wanted to see his grandson and so he went home.
C
1. In spite of my going to his home, he did not meet me.
2. Because of his being ill, he could not attend the meeting.
3. Waking up, I received your phone call.
4. By working hard, you will be successful.
5. Immediately after seeing a snake, Sadman killed it.