How to combine two or more simple sentences into a single compound sentence

Combination of Two or More Simple Sentences into A Single Compound Sentence

Two or more Simple Sentences can be combined into one Compound Sentence:

By using some Co-ordinating Conjunction which adds one statement to another (e.g. and, both…and, not only…but also, not less than, etc.)

• God made the country. Man made the town.
  God made the country and man made the town.
• He is rogue. He is a mad man.
  He is both a rogue and a mad man.
• His enemies declared him to be guilty. His best friends also declared him to be guilty.
  Not only his enemies but his best friends also declared him to be guilty.
• Ali is guilty. Hari is guilty no less.
  Hari no less than Ali is guilty.

By using some Co-ordinating Conjunction which suggests a choice between two statements (e.g. or, either…or, neither…nor, )

• She must weep. She will die.
  She must weep or she will die.
• Take medicine regularly. You will not get better.
  Take medicine regularly, else you will not get better.
• He is mad. He feigns madness.
  Either he is mad or he feigns madness.
• He is not an idler. He is not a gambler.
  He is neither an idler nor a gambler.

By using some Co-ordinating Conjunction which suggests a contrast between two different statements (e.g., but, still, yet, only, etc.)

• He is poor. He is contented.
  He is poor but he is contented.
• He is rich. He is unhappy.
  He is rich, still he is unhappy.
• He may slay me. I will trust Him.
  He may slay me, yet I will trust Him.
• Wise men love truth. Fools shim it.
  Wise men love truth whereas (or while) fools shun it.

By using some Co-ordinating Conjunction which suggests that one statement stands as a consequence of another (e.g., therefore, so, for )

• He was found guilty. He was hanged.
  He was found guilty, therefore he was hanged.
• He is unwell. He cannot attend college.
  He is unwell, so he cannot attend college.
• He will die one day. All men are mortal.
  He will die one day for all men are mortal.

Exercise 1: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘not only…but also :—

1. He is hard working. He is sincere.
2. You should read this poem. You should learn this poem.
3. He was fined. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
4. Try to be honest. Try to be faithful.
5. The bandit robbed the poor traveller. The bandit killed the poor travel­ler.
6. He passed in the first division. He won a scholarship.
7. He lost his ticket. He lost his luggage.
8. He gave us food to eat. He helped us with money.
9. The rich should pity the poor. The rich should help the poor.
10. He read the book. He remembered what he had read.

Exercise 2: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘still’ or ‘yet’:—

1. He was annoyed. He kept quiet.
2. He failed. He persevered.
3. He was not very rich. He helped the poor.
4. He worked very hard. He failed in the examination.
5. He was very obstinate. His friends loved him.
6. The old man was tired and hungry. He walked on and on.
7. The weather was hot. The weather was not unpleasant.
8. She was rather unfair to us. We did not mind at all.
9. The doctors did their best. The patient did not show any improvement.
10. She won the first prize in English. She was not satisfied.

Exercise 3: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘either…or’.

1. She will go to Delhi by bus. She will go to Delhi by car.
2. This boy is lazy. This boy is stupid.
3. He will visit us this week. He will visit us next week.
4. The teacher is to blame. His pupil is to blame.
5. You must tell the truth. You must face expulsion from the school.
6. He is a liar. He is a coward.
7. I will meet you at the post office. I will meet you at the cinema.
8. This news must go by airmail. This news must go by wire.
9. He is mistaken. His brother is mistaken.
10. Do your work properly. Leave my service.

Exercise 4: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘or’ :—

1. She must weep. She will die.
2. Do you like to play hockey? Do you like to play football?
3. You must pay the fine. You must leave the school.
4. Is that rumour true? Is that rumour false?
5. Make haste. You will be late.
6. You must obey the rules of the hostel. You must leave the hostel.
7. Will you have tea? Will you have coffee?
8. Will you go to Delhi on Monday? Will you go to Delhi on Wednesday?
9. Will they travel by air? Will they travel by train?
10. Is she asleep? Is she awake?

Exercise 5: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘neither… nor’.

1. He does not speak English well. He does not write English well.
2. He is not a liar. He is not a coward.
3. He is not in the wrong. His brother is not in the wrong.
4. She is not in the kitchen. She is not in the drawing room.
5. He cannot speak Hindi. He cannot speak English.
6. We do not admit it. We do not deny it.
7. I have no food. I have no money.
8. His father is not a teacher. His father is not a lawyer.
9. He will not come this week. He will not come next week.
10. He is not hungry. He is not tired.

Exercise 6: Join each of the following pairs of sentences by using ‘else’ or ‘otherwise’.

1. You must work hard. You will fail in the examination.
2. You must hurry up. You will miss the train.
3. Walk quickly. You will not overtake him.
4. You must write the letter just now. It will be late for the post.
5. Give him some water to drink. He will die of thirst.
6. Take exercise regularly. Your heaith will suffer.
7. Don’t violate the road rules. You will be involved in an accident.
8. A policeman arrived just then. The thief would not have been caught.
9. Tell the truth. You will be punished.
10. They must confess their fault. They will be expelled from the school.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES

The following examples show how a group of Simple Sentences can be combined into a single Compound Sentence by combining the above methods:

1. He is meek. He is gentle. He is sly. He is cunning. His friends avoid his company.
   He is meek and gentle, but sly and cunning and hence his friends avoid his company.
2. The people of this place are thrifty. They are industrious. They are dis­honest. They are dirty. The people of other places do not mix with them. The people of this place are thrifty and industrious, but they are dishonest and dirty; so the people of other places do not mix with them.
3. In private life he was kind. In public life he administered strict justice. In private life he was kind and even generous, but in public life he was severe and administered strict justice.

Exercise 7: Combine each of following groups of Simple Sentences into a Compound Sentence :—

1. He was declared to be guilty by the magistrate. Even his best friends believed the verdict to be just.
2. Do not be a borrower. Do not be a lender.
3. Walk quickly. You will not be able to overtake him. .
4. He failed in the examination. He did not work hard.
5. Man proposes. God disposes.
6. His debts were heavy. He has paid them off.
7. The meek shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the meek.
8. He did not get the first prize. He was much praised for his zeal and energy.
9. He is not a happy man. He has bad health.
10. Little minds are tamed by misfortune. They are subdued by hardship. Great minds rise above such trials of life.
11. Take him. Bind him hand and foot. Cast him out.
12. Some men are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them.
13. There is nothing good. There is nothing bad. Thinking makes it so.
14. I could not find the key of the safe. I broke open the safe. It was of no use. The safe was empty.
15. You may not care for wealth. You may not care for fame. You shall have to care for truth. Life without truth is a degraded life.