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

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

A NOUN CLAUSE

Two or more Simple Sentences may be combined into one Complex Sentence by using a Noun Clause.

1. He is hard-working. Everybody knows it.
   Everybody knows that he is hard-working.
2. He may be at home. I do not know.
   I do not know whether he is at home.
3. He speaks fast. Otherwise he is a good teacher.
   Except that he speaks fast, he is a good teacher.
4. He would win the first prize. That was his hope. His hope was not ful­filled.
   His hope, that he would win the first prize, was not fulfilled.
5. He may fail again. This is his great fear.
   His great fear is that he may fail again.

Exercise 1: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Complex Sentence, containing a Noun Clause:

1. Tagore was our greatest poet. It is generally agreed.
2. He succeeded. This is well-known.
3. He may be allowed to resign. This is his request.
4. Nobody denies it. He deserves punishment.
5. Mahabir is penniless. There is no doubt about this.
6. He may be innocent. I do not know.
7. Plague is spread by rats. It is now commonly believed.
8. A certain number of the enemy escaped. We do not know this number.
9. Please, lend me your book. I want to read it.
10. When will the train arrive? Tell me.

AN ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Two or more Simple Sentences may be combined into one Complex Sentence by introducing an Adjective Clause by the use of who, whom, whose or which and the Relative Adverb where or why.

1. I met my old friend. He is now a Police Inspector.
   I met my old friend who is now a Police Inspector.
2. The boy sits near me. His father is a philosopher.
   The boy whose father is a philosopher sits near me.
3. This is the letter. Lila wrote it.
   This is the letter which Lila wrote.
4. This is the garden. The finest roses grow.
   This is the garden where the finest roses grow.
5. You did not come to school yesterday. Can you tell me the reason?
   Can you tell me the reason why you did not come to school yesterday?

Exercise 2: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Complex Sentence, containing an Adjective Clause:

1. The attack has failed. Can you tell me the reason?
2. The attack was made at night. It was carried out successfully by the commander.
3. The King is now lying seriously ill. We are all very anxious for his life.
4. This is the house. I was born here.
5. She is not keeping good health. Can you tell me the reason?
6. Some people live in glass houses. Such people must not throw stones at others.
7. This is the hole. A snake lives here.
8. The man was a stammerer in his childhood. You admire his voice now.
9. Once there lived a farmer. He had a goose. The goose laid an egg every day. The egg was golden.
10. The conspirators met together secretly. The place of their meeting was a thick jungle. Their object was to murder the King.

AN ADVERB CLAUSE

Two or more Simple Sentences may be combined into one Complex Sentence by introducing an Adverb Clause by the use of the Subordinating Conjunctions if, since, because, unless, when, where, while, though, as, until, before, than, that,

1. You will pass. Your working hard is a condition.
   You will pass if you work hard.
2. He will succeed. He has worked hard.
   He will succeed, since he has worked hard.
3. He was fined. He has copied in the examination.
   He was fined because he had copied in the examination.
4. You must work harder. You will not pass.
   Unless you work harder, you will not pass.
5. The sun set. We returned home.
   When the sun set, we returned home.
6. He worked hard. His object was to win a prize.
   He worked hard that he might win a prize.
7. You are there. You can stay there.
   You can stay where you are.
8. The sun shines. Make hay now.
   Make hay while the sun shines.
9. He is contented. He is poor.
   He is contented though he is poor.
10. He is ill. He cannot attend office.
    As he is ill, he cannot attend office.
11. I will return. Do not go till then.
    Do not go until I return.
12. I had left home. She came later.
    I had left home before she came.
13. Lila is more intelligent. I am less intelligent.
    Lila is more intelligent than I am.
14. The bell rang. They all came up at once.
    As soon as the bell rang, they all came up.
15. Hamid is clever. Ali is equally clever.
    Ali is as clever as Hamid.

Exercise 3: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Complex Sentence containing an Adverb Clause.

1. Strike now. The iron is hot.
2. You may cheat very cleverly. You will be found out at last.
3. They fought very bravely. The enemies were driven off.
4. I shall come. Let it rain.
5. You may not enter into temptation.
6. He drew his sword. His object was to defend himself.
7. He walked with care. He was afraid of stumbling.
8. He was taken ill. He has been weak from that time.
9. He was not there. I spoke to his mother.
10. You are very clever. You will be able to explain this.
11. Men work. They wish to earn a decent living.
12. He spoke rapidly. We could not clearly understand him.
13. He is very stupid. He is equally lazy.
14. The signal was given. Everyone immediately raised a shout.
15. Mohan is a clever boy. No other boy in the class is more clever.
16. It is very simple. Even a child can understand it.
17. The thief saw the policeman coming. He immediately took to his heels.
18. You must take your medicine. You will not get better.
19. He is very old. He enjoys good health.
20. You have tears. Prepare to shed them now.

Exercise 4: (Miscellaneous) Combine the following sentences without using and or ‘but’:

1. He was very tired. He could not walk any farther.
2. He finished his work. He sat down to relax.
3. The weather was fine. He went out for a walk.
4. That is the University. I received my education there.
5. He was angry with his brother. He shouted at him.
6. I do not like her. She is a naughty girl.
7. He is a sincere worker. No one can doubt this fact.
8. The boy had won a prize. He was very pleased.
9. There were three hundred persons on board the ship. Only one es­caped.
10. He sold the cycle. It belonged to his son.
11. This box is heavy. I cannot lift it.
12. They were frightened. They took to their heels.
13. You sent me a message. I duly received it.
14. He spoke in a very low voice. Nobody could hear him.
15. He is very old. He enjoys good health.
16. My sister attends school regularly. She is keen to pass the examina­tion.
17. A committee was formed. It consisted of several government officials.
18. Is it time for the train to start? Ask the guard.
19. He has no work in winter. He idles away his time.
20. Many planets move around the sun. Only the earth is habitable.

Exercise 5: Rewrite the following sentences without changing their essential meaning, according to the instruction given after each:

1. You’ll get crushed! Get away!
   (Rewrite as one sentence and use ‘if’.)
2. Tagore was a painter. He was also a poet.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘Besides………. ’)
3. He won a lottery. He bought a car.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘As soon as…. ’)
4. I received his telegram. Immediately I went to see him.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘As soon as…. ’)
5. I will get ready. Do not go till then.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘until’.)
6. All will respect you. Your being honest is a condition.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘if.)
7. He had left home. The guest arrived afterwards.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘before’.)
8. he returned from Mumbai? Ask his wife.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘whether’.)
9. It is very simple. Even a child can understand it.
   (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘so…………. that’.)
10. You must take your medicine regularly. You will not get better.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘unless’.)
11. He works hard. His object is to win a scholarship.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘that’.)
12. The sun shines. Make hay now.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘while’.)
13. The thief saw the policeman coming. He immediately took to his heels.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘As soon as ….’.)
14. Raman is industrious. Ashok is equally industrious.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘as………….. as ’)
15. We reached home. The sun had not set then.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘before’.)
16. Do not tell lies. Lying is wrong.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘since’.)
17. He drew the sword. His purpose was to defend himself.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘that’.)
18. We could hardly see our way. It was very dark.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘so………….. that’.)
19. The old woman is quite happy. She is very poor.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘although’.)
20. You must walk fast. You will miss the train.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘unless’.)
21. He hurried home. His father might scold him.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘lest’.)
22. He heard the news of his success. He informed his father immediately.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘as soon as ’.)
23. He was encouraged by his success. He made further efforts.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘being’.)
24. He can’t buy this car. It is very expensive.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘to buy’.)
25. The place was very beautiful. For that reason we did not like to leave it.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, lining ‘As……………… ’.)
26. He ran. He was chased by a lion.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘as if.)
27. His handwriting is good. Your handwriting is iot equally good.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘so………….. as’.)
28. He has deceived his friends. They still :rust him.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘Although …… ’.)
29. We stayed at home. The weather was very hot.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘As……………… ’.)
30. You will be III. Do not eat too much.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘if………………… ’.)
31. You must work hard. You will not succeed.
    (Rewrite as one sentence, using ‘Unless         ’.)

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