Transformation Of A Compound Sentence Into A Simple Sentence

A simple sentence consists of just one clause whereas a compound sentence consists of two or more clauses. We can transform a compound sentence into a simple sentence by reducing the number of clauses into one.

Study the examples given below.

• He knocked on the door and demanded admission. (This sentence has two coordinating clauses connected by the conjunction and; hence it is a compound sentence)

We can change this compound sentence into a simple sentence by reducing the clause ‘he knocked on the door’ to the participial phrase ‘knocking on the door’.

• Knocking on the door, he demanded admission.

Another example is given below.

• She worked hard and finished the project on time. (Compound sentence)
• Working hard, she finished the project on time. (Simple sentence)

Now study the following example.

• The refugees need not only food but also shelter. (Compound sentence)
• Besides food, the refugees need shelter. (Simple sentence)

Here we converted the clause ‘the refugees need food’ into the prepositional phrase ‘besides food’.

Another example is given below.

• She went on a diet and reduced her weight. (Compound)

We can express the same idea in a simple sentence.

• She went on a diet to reduce her weight.

Here we converted the clause ‘and reduced her weight’ to the infinitive phrase ‘to reduce her weight.

Thus we have seen that we can convert a compound sentence into a simple sentence by reducing one of the clauses to a participial, prepositional or infinitive phrase.