What is a Simple Sentence?
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause. It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. There are no dependent clauses in a simple sentence.
Structure of a Simple Sentence:
- Subject + Verb (+ Object/Complement)
Examples:
- She sings.
- They play football.
- He loves pizza.
Simple to complex sentences
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent (or subordinate) clause. The dependent clause adds more information to the main clause but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Structure of a Complex Sentence:
- Independent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Dependent Clause
(or) - Subordinating Conjunction + Dependent Clause + Comma + Independent Clause
Examples:
- Although she sings beautifully, she is shy.
- Because he loves pizza, he eats it every day.
- When they play football, they have fun.
How to Change a Simple Sentence into a Complex Sentence
To change a simple sentence into a complex sentence, you can follow this structure:
- Identify the main idea (independent clause) of the simple sentence.
- Add a subordinating conjunction (like “although,” “because,” “since,” “if,” “when”) to create a dependent clause that adds extra information.
- Combine the independent clause with the dependent clause to form a complex sentence.
Structure to Convert:
- Simple Sentence: Subject + Verb (+ Object/Complement)
- Complex Sentence: Independent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Dependent Clause
Example:
- Simple: He works hard.
- Complex: He works hard because he wants to succeed.
Simple to complex sentences exercises with answers
Simple to Complex Sentence
Simple Sentence | Complex Sentence |
She reads books. | She reads books because she loves learning. |
They won the match. | They won the match since they practiced hard. |
He is tired. | He is tired because he worked late last night. |
The sun is shining. | The sun is shining, although it was raining earlier. |
She dances gracefully. | She dances gracefully when the music starts playing. |
The dog barked loudly. | The dog barked loudly because it saw a stranger. |
She passed the exam. | She passed the exam since she studied every day. |
He eats healthy food. | He eats healthy food because he wants to stay fit. |
They went to the park. | They went to the park, although it was crowded. |
The baby is sleeping. | The baby is sleeping while her parents are working. |
I like coffee. | I like coffee because it wakes me up in the morning. |
She is happy. | She is happy because she got a promotion. |
The train arrived. | The train arrived after the storm passed. |
He runs fast. | He runs fast because he trains every day. |
The cat is sleeping. | The cat is sleeping while the sun shines through the window. |
We went shopping. | We went shopping although it was raining. |
The flowers bloom. | The flowers bloom when spring arrives. |
He finished his homework. | He finished his homework before dinner. |
She loves her job. | She loves her job because it is fulfilling. |
The kids are playing. | The kids are playing while their parents watch. |
He drinks water. | He drinks water because it’s healthy. |
They traveled to Spain. | They traveled to Spain after they saved enough money. |
The car stopped. | The car stopped because it ran out of gas. |
He opened the window. | He opened the window since it was hot inside. |
They are excited. | They are excited because they are going on vacation. |
The birds are singing. | The birds are singing while the sun rises. |
She finished reading the book. | She finished reading the book before she went to bed. |
He swims every morning. | He swims every morning because it keeps him fit. |
She cleaned the house. | She cleaned the house before the guests arrived. |
The team won the game. | The team won the game because they practiced well. |
He left early. | He left early since he had a meeting. |
She smiled. | She smiled because she heard good news. |
The children laughed. | The children laughed when they saw the clown. |
The sun set. | The sun set after they arrived home. |
He is sleeping. | He is sleeping because he is tired. |
The bell rang. | The bell rang after class ended. |
She cried. | She cried because she lost her wallet. |
They celebrated. | They celebrated because it was her birthday. |
He left the office. | He left the office after he finished the report. |
The baby cried. | The baby cried because it was hungry. |
The cake is delicious. | The cake is delicious because it has fresh ingredients. |
She bought a dress. | She bought a dress after she saw it on sale. |
The dog barked. | The dog barked because it heard a noise. |
He sings beautifully. | He sings beautifully because he practices often. |
The children are studying. | The children are studying while their teacher explains. |
She closed the window. | She closed the window because it was windy. |
We ate lunch. | We ate lunch after we went shopping. |
He is a good cook. | He is a good cook because he has years of experience. |
The cat meowed. | The cat meowed because it was hungry. |
He drove fast. | He drove fast because he was late. |
The flowers are blooming. | The flowers are blooming since it is springtime. |
They are watching a movie. | They are watching a movie because it’s their day off. |
The sky is blue. | The sky is blue because the sun is shining. |
She is nervous. | She is nervous because she has a test. |
The room is clean. | The room is clean because she cleaned it yesterday. |
The car is new. | The car is new because they just bought it. |
He is reading a book. | He is reading a book because he enjoys it. |
The train is late. | The train is late because of bad weather. |
She went to the gym. | She went to the gym because she wants to stay fit. |
They cooked dinner. | They cooked dinner after they returned home. |
He gave a speech. | He gave a speech because it was his duty. |
The sun is setting. | The sun is setting while they enjoy the view. |
She is learning French. | She is learning French because she plans to travel. |
The baby is laughing. | The baby is laughing because he is playing. |
They are planting trees. | They are planting trees because it helps the environment. |
He is painting the house. | He is painting the house because it needs a fresh look. |