Simple sentence – has one subject and one predicate
Examples
1. The sky is blue.
2. The cow eats grass.
3. The college will reopen on Monday.
Compound sentence – is made up of two or more principle/main/independent clauses which are joined with help of a coordinating conjunction.
Each part has its own subject and predicate.
Examples
1. Ram went to the station and boarded the Mumbai train.
2. The moon was bright and we could see our way.
3. He wanted to talk to her but she refused.
Complex sentence – consists of one main clause and one or more subordinate/dependent clause which are joined with the help of subordinating conjunction.
Each part has it’s own subject and predicate.
Examples
1. They rested when evening came.
2. I went because I was invited.
3. This is the house that jack built.
Ways to change compound/complex to Simple ( Notice the ways how the sentences are changed )
1. He climbed up the tree and plucked some mangoes.
Ans. Climbing up the tree , he plucked some mangoes.
2. He was tired and fell asleep.
Ans. Being tired , he fell asleep.
3. He was ill , but he attended the classes.
Ans. In spite of his illness he attended the classes.
4. She is not only pretty but also clever.
Ans. Besides being pretty , she is clever.
5. He is very learned yet very humble.
Ans. Notwithstanding his great learning , he is humble.
6. He was ill ,therefore he could not continue his studies.
Ans. Owing to his ill health , he could not continue his studies.
7. He got up and walked away.
Ans. Getting up , he walked away.
8. He ran away and escaped arrest.
Ans. He ran away in order to escape arrest.
9. He liked what i suggested.
Ans. He liked my suggestion.
10. I don’t know when he will arrive.
Ans. I don’t know his time of arrival.
11. Find out where he lives.
Ans. Find out his residence.
12. He follows the example which was set by his father.
Ans. He follows his father’s example.
13. My cousin, who is a journalist , wrote this article.
Ans. My cousin, a journalist, wrote this article. ( Apposition...check page 139 of your textbook )
14. He admitted that he was guilty.
Ans. He admitted his guilt.
15. When the war ended , the United nations was formed.
Ans. At the end of the war the United nation was formed.
16. He was so weak that he could not walk.
Ans. He was too weak to walk.
17. I was surprised when i saw his obstinacy.
Ans. I was surprised to see his obstinacy.
List of coordinating conjunctions
( to be used only while making compound sentences )
And , but , not only...but also , or , For , else , either...or , neither...nor ,yet , Still ,so, etc.
List of subordinating conjunctions
( to be used only while making complex sentences )
After , because , if , that , though , although, till , unless , as, when , whereas ,whether , before, where , while , which , that , until , , since , in case,even if ,as soon as, etc.
Few examples to understand even better...
1. I walked straight to the village and bought myself two dozen penny exercise books. ( Make it simple )
Ans. Walking straight away to the village , i bought myself two dozen penny exercise books.
2. As this material hardens ,it becomes sedimentary rock. ( Make it a compound sentence )
Ans. This material hardens and becomes a sedimentary rock.
3. They live in different time zones.
( Make it a complex sentence )
Ans. They live in time zones which are different.
4. He opened the shop's weathered door and went inside. ( Make it a simple sentence )
Ans. Opening the shop’s weathered door , he went inside.
5. The earth would be too hot to be habitable. ( remove “too” and rewrite the sentence...from simple to complex )
Ans. The earth would be so hot that it would not be habitable.
Let's practise ( you can type your answers in comment section )
1. The kids had a wonderful picnic.
( change it into compound and also in complex sentence )
2. She completed her work and went to the park. ( make it a simple sentence)
3. My father ditched this bog all his days and never made a pasture. ( make it a complex sentence)
4. I tramped back to the farm and picked the bundle from the ash can.( Make it a complex sentence)
5. Complete your homework or you will not go to play. ( make it a simple and a Complex sentence)
