PART ONE: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND
INTRODUCTION
AUSE".
UNDERSTANDING
PHRASE
A phrase is a group of related words within a sentence that
complements the overall structure of a sentence. A phrase lacks both the subject
and the object. Hence, a phrase cannot stand alone to give complete meaning.
The underlined group of words in the following sentence is a phrase.
ü I
saw a joker in the street.
A phrase can act as a noun, an adjective, a preposition, and
an adverb. The function of a phrase
depends upon its construction and place in a sentence. Depending upon its
function in a sentence, phrases are divided into various types: Noun Phrase,
Verb Phrase, Adjective Phrase, Adverb Phrase, Gerund Phrase, Infinitive Phrase, and Absolute Phrase.
UNDERSTANDING
CLAUSE
The clause is of three types:
1.
Independent Clause: An Independent clause can
express complete sense. For its meaning, it does not depend on any other clause.
ü
He told
me the story which was written by Shakespeare. The part in bold can express
complete sense even separated from the sentence
2.
Dependent Clause: A dependent clause cannot express a complete sense of its own. For meaning, it has to depend on the Principal or
independent clause.
ü
He told me the story which was written by Shakespeare. The part in bold is a dependent
clause. It cannot express complete sense if separated from the sentence.
3.
Co-ordinate Clause: Co-ordinate clause consists
of two Independent clauses joined by Co-coordinating conjunction such as and,
but, yet, otherwise, or, nor, either------or, neither------nor, etc.
ü
You have to study hard or you cannot make
complete sense of the book.
ü
One must practice speaking the truth or people will
not trust a liar.
ü
We work hard and we make our fate.
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SOME
SUBORDINATE AND COORDINATING CONJUNCTION REQUIRED FOR TRANSFORMATION
v COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
We use
coordinating conjunctions for making a compound sentence. If you want to know about
coordinating conjunctions thoroughly, you can read my post “Conjunction”. However, following coordinating conjunctions are most commonly
used for making a compound sentence.
N
|
A
|
F
|
B
|
O
|
Y
|
S
|
NOR
|
AND
|
FOR
|
BUT
|
OR
|
YET
|
SO
|
Examples of
Coordinating conjunction
·
I
did not finish my homework, nor did I read anything.
·
I
work and expect a better result.
·
I
could not go to college, for I was sick.
·
I
worked hard but I could not make a better result.
·
Work
hard or you will fail in the exam.
·
I
am supposed to finish my homework today, yet I cannot.
·
I
am fond of reading, so I read regularly.
v SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION
We use
subordinating conjunction for making a complex sentence. Some most used
subordinating conjunctions are shown below.
BEFORE
|
IF
|
PROVIDED
|
TILL
|
WHO
|
AFTER
|
IF ONLY
|
PROVIDED THAT
|
UNTIL
|
WHICH
|
AS
|
IF WHEN
|
LEST
|
WHEN
|
WHERE
|
BECAUSE
|
IF THEN
|
SINCE
|
WHENEVER
|
WHY
|
AS THOUGH
|
EVEN
|
ONCE
|
THAN
|
WHOEVER
|
AS IF
|
EVEN IF
|
RATHER THAN
|
THAT
|
WHILE
|
ALTHOUGH
|
EVEN THOUGH
|
NOW
|
UNLESS
|
WHETHER
|
AS SOON AS
|
INASMUCH
|
NOW SINCE
|
THOUGH
|
WHERE IF
|
AS LONG AS
|
JUST AS
|
NOW WHEN
|
SUPPOSING
|
WHEREAS
|
AS MUCH AS
|
IN ORDER THAT
|
NOW THAT
|
SO THAT
|
WHEREVER
|
SECTION:ONE SIMPLE SENTENCE
Subject + Finite verb + object ‘to be’ verb + Adjective
A simple sentence consists of only one subject and one finite verb, expressed or understood. But a simple sentence can have one or more than one non-finite verb.
Subject + Finite Verb
Structure: Subject + finite verb
Rohan plays.
Rohit is writing.
2. Present participle + subject + finite verb
Going there, he called in a doctor.
Working hard, he obtained a good grade.
3. By + Gerund
Structure: (verb + ing) + subject + Finite verb
§ By displaying good manners, he earned others’ respect.
§ By climbing the mountain, you can see everything around you.
4. In spite of / Despite of
Structure: Principal clause + in spite of / Despite + possessive form of the subject of the second clause + noun/being/ ing verb + adjective
He was hard working. He did not succeed.
§ In spite of / despite his being hard work, he did not succeed.
The plant is not growing well. I take great care of it.
§ The plant is not growing well in spite of / despite my taking great care of it.
5. Because of
Structure: Principal Clause + because of + possessive form of the subject of the second clause + noun/being/ ing verb + adverb
He made a good result. He worked hard.
§ He made a good result because of his working hard.
Bolt won the 200-meter race. He could run fast.
§ Neela won the 100-meter race because of his running fast.
6. In the case of
Structure: In case of + subject’s possessive form + verb with -ing (Adjective/Adverb) + subject + verb
§ In the case of his being poor, he could not continue his study.
§ In case of his being perseverant, he will succeed in life.
7. Too.........To
8. Subject + Rr. Verb + too + Adjective/Adverb (for + object) + to + verb + extension
(This structure is used to combine two clauses. In this type of structure, we see adjectives or adverbs at the end of the first clause. Due to the influence of such adjective or adverb, the next clause expresses negative meaning.
He is very lazy. He cannot succeed in life.
§ He is too lazy to succeed in life.
He is very weak. He cannot walk
§ He is too weak to walk.
9. Uses of enough
'Enough' is used in two ways: with nouns and with adjectives.
With Noun: subject + verb + enough + noun (to + verb)
He has enough money. He can spend at his will.
§ He has enough money to spend at his will.
With Adjective: Subject + verb + adjective + enough + (to + verb)
He is very intelligent. He will shine in life.
§ He is intelligent enough to shine in life
Subject + Finite verb + object ‘to be’ verb + Adjective
§ The teacher wanted everybody to be studious and serious.
§ My parents want me to be a good human.
SECTION TWO: COMPLEX SENTENCE
Complex Sentence consists of one principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. In a complex sentence, there is one subject and one finite verb in each clause. For example:
Though he is rich he is honest.
I know the place where he was born.
Subordinate clause mostly starts with subordinate conjunction such as since as, because, when, after, before, until, till, relative pronoun, etc.
Structure
i. Principal clause + Subordinate clause
a. I know the man who is writing.
b. There is a poet who is known to all.
c. When I went to Khulna, I visited Sundarban.
d. As he likes to work hard, he will receive divine justice.
e. I do not know when he will finish the work.
f. Since you work hard, you will succeed.
g. The boy who sits beside you is my student.
ii. So…… that
So…….that is co-relative conjunction. We use this structure when the result of the second clause is determined based on the first clause. Other parts remain unchanged.
Structure: Subject + verb + so + adjective + that + second clause
a. He is very poor. He cannot buy a mobile phone.
- He is so poor that he cannot buy a mobile phone.
b. The bag was heavy. They could not carry it.
- The bag was so heavy that they could not carry it.
iii. So that
So that sits together. Like ‘so…….that’, so that is also used when the result of the second clause is determined based on the first clause. Other parts remain unchanged.
Structure: first clause + so that + subject + may/ might/ can / could + verb
a. He is trying hard. He wants to achieve his goal.
He is trying hard so that he can / may / achieve his goal.
b. He worked eight hours. He wanted to finish his thesis in six months.
He worked eight hours so that he could / might finish his thesis in six months.
iv. So/as…….as
So/as…as the structure is used to transform superlative or comparative degree in a positive sentence.
Structure: subject + verb (not) + as/so + adjective + as + noun/pronoun
Note: as….as structure is used in a positive statement, but not so…..as or as…..as the structure is used in a negative statement
- Nasima is as intelligent as is Priyanka.
- Rohan is not as talented as is Rohit.
A complex sentence also consists of some other co-relative conjunctions such as no sonar had…..than, hardly had……when/before, scarcely had……when/before, not only…..but also, neither……nor, either……..or, as soon as.
SECTION THREE: COMPOUND SENTENCE
A compound sentence consists of two or more co-ordinate/principal clauses joined by coordinating conjunction. The most used coordinating conjunctions are FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET. If you want to know about coordinating conjunction, you may read my article on “CONJUNCTION”.
- He is a rich man and he is very honest.
- I met the boys and they were studying seriously.
Structure: Co-ordinate Clause + and/or/but + Co-ordinate Clause
He is poor but he is rich at heart.
- (You) Work fast or you will not achieve your goal.
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A SHORT VIEW
SIMPLE
|
COMPLEX
|
COMPOUND
|
VERB WITH -ING
Going home, I found him dancing.
|
AS/SINCE/WHEN
When I went home, I found him dancing.
|
AND
I went home and I found him dancing
|
BY + GERUND
By working hard, you can succeed in life, If we work hard, we can
succeed in life.
|
IF + AFFIRMATIVE
If we work hard, we can succeed in life.
|
IMPERATIVE + AND
Work hard and you can succeed in life.
|
WITHOUT + GERUND
Without working hard you cannot succeed.
|
IF WITH NEGATIVE/UNLESS
If you do not work hard, you cannot succeed in life.
|
IMPERATIVE.....OR
Work hard or you cannot succeed in life.
|
TOO.....TO
He is too poor to buy a car.
|
SO THAT
He is so weak that he cannot buy a car.
|
VERY......AND
He is very poor and he cannot buy a car.
|
IN SPITE OF/DESPITE
Despite his riches, he is unhappy.
|
THOUGH/ALTHOUGH
Though he is rich, he is unhappy.
|
BUT
He is rich but he is unhappy.
|
TO + VERB
I went to Khulna to visit Sundarban.
|
SO THAT/IN ORDER THAT
I went to Khulna so that I could visit Sundarban.
|
WENT.....AND/SO
I went to Khulna and/so I visited Sundarban.
|
BECAUSE OF/ON ACCOUNT OF/OWING TO/DUE TO
He could not finish his work because of his laziness.
|
AS/SINCE/BECAUSE
As he was lazy, he could not finish his work.
|
AND
He was lazy and he could not finish his work.
|
MAN/ANIMAL/THING
I saw a floating flower.
|
WHO/WHOM/WHEN/WHERE
I saw a flower which was floating.
|
AND
I saw a flower and it was floating.
|
BESIDES/BOTH
Besides being a good player, he is a good human.
|
WHILE
While he s a good student, he is a good human.
|
NOT ONLY/BUT ALSO
He is not only a good student but also a good player.
|
NOTE: It should be kept in mind that understanding the basic structure of a sentence can boost one in the process of transformation. A sentence can be converted into another one in more than one way without preserving its meaning. If we know the formation or nature of different sentences, we can transform one sentence into another naturally. There are no fixed rules though rules can help us to a great extent. It is better to understand the basics. Then we can look at rules.
SOME
EXAMPLES
· I shall /
will remember them with pride. (Compound)
I shall/will always
remember them and it is with pride.
I shall/will always
remember them and I am proud of them.
I am proud of them
and I shall/will always remember them.
·
Our forefathers sacrificed their lives for the
independence of Bangladesh. (complex)
It is our
forefathers who sacrificed their lives for the independence of Bangladesh.
Our forefathers
sacrificed their lives so that they could achieve the independence of
Bangladesh.
·
It was 2013 when I finished my Master’s.
(simple)
I finished my
Master’s in 2013.
In 2013, I finished
my Master’s.
·
The purpose of a rich man is to enjoy life
to its fullest. (Complex)
A man who is rich
has a target to enjoy life to its fullest.
A rich man has a
target so that he can/may enjoy life to its fullest.
·
The Italian motorbike company Taro launched a
new bike last month. (Complex)
It was the Italian
motorbike company Taro which launched a new bike last month.
It was last month
when the Italian motorbike company launched a new bike.
The motorbike
company which is based in Italy launched a new bike last month.
ARUP ROY
WORKING AS A LECTURER,
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
AT A UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF IELD
FORMER LECTURER OF STAMFORD COLLEGE
& DHAKA PUBLIC COLLEGE
WORKED AS A MEMBER SECRETARY
AT STAMFORD ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLUB UTTARA