Grammar (Simple, Complex and Compound)

Grammar

SIMPLE, COMPLEX AND COMPOUND

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.

Now, let us study about the three different kinds of sentences.

1. Simple    2. Complex 3. Compound

·              A Simple sentence consists of only one Finite Verb.

·              A Complex sentence has one Main Clause and one or more Subordinate Clauses.

·              A Compound sentence has two Main Clauses combined by a Coordinating Conjunction.

SIMPLE SENTENCE

Examples

1. Ramu is too poor to buy a bicycle.

2. Despite his old age, Raghav walked fast.

3. In the event of not consulting a doctor, you cannot recover.

4. On seeing the teacher, the children stood up.

5. Due to a heavy downpour, the match was cancelled.

(In the above sentences, finite verbs are highlighted)

COMPLEX SENTENCE

Examples

1. Ramu is so poor that he cannot buy a bicycle.

2. Though Raghav was old, he walked fast

3. Unless you consult a doctor, you cannot recover.

4. As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up

5. As there was a heavy downpour, the match was cancelled.

(The parts of the sentences highlighted are main clauses)

COMPOUND SENTENCE

Examples

1.           Ramu is very poor and he cannot buy a bicycle.

2.           Raghav was old yet he walked fast.

3.           You consult a doctor otherwise you cannot recover

4.           The children saw the teacher and they stood up

5.           There was a heavy downpour and so the match was cancelled

(In the above sentences, the words highlighted are conjunctions)

A. Transform the following sentences as instructed.

1.  On seeing the teacher, the children stood up. (into Complex)

Ans: As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up.

2.  At the age of six, Varsha started learning music. (into Complex)

Ans: Varsha started learning music when she was six.

3.  As Varun is a voracious reader, he buys a lot of books. (into Simple)

Ans: Being a voracious reader, Varun buys a lot of books.

4.  Walk carefully lest you will fall down. (into Complex)

Ans: If you don’t walk carefully, you will fall down.

5.  Besides being a dancer, she is a singer. (into Compound)

Ans: She is not only a dancer but also a singer.

6.  He is sick but he attends the rehearsal. (into Simple)

Ans: In spite of his sickness, he attends the rehearsal.

7.  If Meena reads more, she will become proficient in the language. (into Compound)

Ans: Meena must read more or she won’t become proficient in the language.

8.  He confessed that he was guilty. (into Simple)

Ans: He confessed his guilt, (or) He confessed his crime.

9. The boy could not attend the special classes due to his mother’s illness. (into Compound)

Ans: His mother was ill and so the boy could not attend the special classes.

10. He followed my suggestion. (into Complex)

Ans: He followed what I suggested.

B. Combine the pairs of sentences below into simple, complex and compound

1. Radha was ill. She was not hospitalised

Simple : In spite of her illness, Radha was not hospitalized.

Complex : Though Radha was ill, she was not hospitalized.

Compound : Radha was ill but she was not hospitalized.

2. The students were intelligent. They could answer the questions correctly

Simple : Being intelligent, the students could answer the questions correctly.

Complex : As the students were intelligent, they could answer the questions correctly.

Compound : The students were intelligent and so they could answer the questions correctly.

3. I must get a visa. I can travel abroad

Simple : In the event of getting a visa, I can travel abroad./ In the event of not getting a visa, I cannot travel abroad.

Complex : If I get a visa, I can travel abroad. /Unless I get a visa, I cannot travel abroad. 

Compound : I must get a visa otherwise I cannot travel abroad.

4. I saw a tiger it was wounded

Simple : I saw a wounded tiger.

Complex : I saw a tiger which was wounded.

Compound : I saw a tiger and it was wounded.

5. There was a bandh. The shops remained closed

Simple : The shops remained closed due to bandh.

Complex : As there was a bandh, the shops remained closed.

Compound : There was a bandh and so the shops remained closed.