simple, compound & complex sentences

1. SIMPLE, COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES
COURSE : B.TECH SEM : IV
SUBJECT : ADVANCE GRAMMAR
UNIT : 1.2

2. Simple Sentences
 A simple sentence consists of only one
coordinate (main) clause. There is no other main
or subordinate clause.
 A complex sentence consists of one coordinate
(main) clause and one or more subordinate
clauses.
 A compound sentence consists of two or more
coordinate (main) clauses.
A main clause can stand alone. A subordinate
clause cannot stand alone. It needs to be attached
to a main clause.

3. What is clause?
 A group of words that contains a subject and a
predicate is called a clause. Adjective: clausal.
 A clause may be either a sentence (an
independent clause) or a sentence-like
construction within another sentence (a dependent
or subordinate clause).
 A clause is a grammatical unit at a level between
phrase and a sentence.

4. Types of Clauses:
 Adjective Clause
 Adverbial Clause
 Comment Clause
 Comparative Clause
 Complement Clause
 Concessive Clause
 Conditional Clause
 Contact Clause
 Coordinate Clause
 Free (Nominal) Relative
Clause
 Independent Clause
 Main Clause
 Matrix Clause
 Noun Clause
 Proportional Clause
 Relative Clause
 Reporting Clause
 That-Clause
 Verbless Clause
 What-Clause
 Wh-Clause

5. Subordinate clauses
 Subordinate clauses are of three types –
adjective clause, adverb clause and noun
clause.
 We can convert a complex sentence into a
compound sentence by changing the subordinate
clause(s) into main clause(s).

6.  Ex. He went to work as soon as he finished his meal.
 Let’s analyze this sentence.
 It has two finite verbs (went, finished) and hence it
has two clauses.
 The clause ‘he went to work’ is the main clause
because it can stand alone.
 The clause ‘as soon as he finished his meal’ is a
subordinate clause because it cannot stand alone
and needs to be attached to the main clause.

7.  We can convert this sentence into a compound
sentence by changing the subordinate clause into
a coordinate clause.
 This can be done by removing the subordinating
conjunction.
 The two clauses are then connected using a
coordinating conjunction.
 He finished his meal and went to work.
 This sentence has two coordinate clauses
connected by the coordinating conjunction ‘and’.

8. Thanks to ….
 A ready reckoner in English Grammar &
Composition (Std.X) by Dineshbhai J. Shah,
Dr. Janakbhai B. Shah and Bharatiben R. Shah
 www.englishgrammar.org/conversion-
complex-sentence-compound-sent...