If you truly want to master English grammar, you must understand how sentences are structured — and how they can be transformed without changing their meaning.
Transformation of sentences is not about rewriting randomly.
It is about changing the structure of a sentence while keeping its meaning intact.
According to clause structure, sentences are divided into four main categories:
1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound–Complex Sentence
Let us understand each one clearly and logically.
1. Simple Sentence
Consider the following sentences:
- Maggie is an intelligent girl.
- She has won a scholarship.
Each of these sentences contains only one Finite Verb.
That means there is only one Clause.
When a sentence has only one clause, that clause is always an Independent Clause. In grammar, an Independent Clause is also called:
- Main Clause
- Principal Clause
- Superordinate Clause
A sentence which has only one Main Clause is known as a Simple Sentence.
✔ One finite verb
✔ One clause
✔ One main idea
2. Compound Sentence
Now look at these sentences:
- Tony went to the post office and bought some stamps.
- Aisha went to market, bought some fish and came back home.
Let us break the first sentence:
- Tony went to the post office
- He bought some stamps
These two parts are joined by the conjunction "and".
Each part has a finite verb and is independent in meaning.
In other words, it is a combination of two Main Clauses.
Similarly, in the second example:
- Aisha went to market
- She bought some fish
- She came back home
Each part is independent and contains a Main Clause.
A sentence that has two or more Main Clauses is called a Compound Sentence.
✔ Two or more independent clauses
✔ Joined by coordinating conjunctions
✔ Equal importance
3. Complex Sentence
Now consider these sentences:
- Sheela said that she wanted to be a lawyer.
- As she was intelligent, Leela could answer all the questions that were put to her.
In the first sentence:
- Sheela said (Main Clause)
- that she wanted to be a lawyer (Subordinate Clause)
The second clause depends on the first for meaning. Therefore, it is called a Dependent or Subordinate Clause.
In the second example:
- As she was intelligent (Subordinate Clause)
- Leela could answer all the questions (Main Clause)
- that were put to her (Subordinate Clause)
Only one clause is independent. The others depend on it.
A sentence which has one Main Clause and one or more Subordinate Clauses is called a Complex Sentence.
✔ One independent clause
✔ One or more dependent clauses
4. Compound–Complex Sentence
Now look at these examples:
- When I heard the cry, I ran to the spot and saved the children from the dog.
- He thinks that he can do as he likes but seldom knows that others can also do as they like.
In the first sentence:
- When I heard the cry (Subordinate Clause)
- I ran to the spot (Main Clause)
- and saved the children from the dog (Main Clause)
In the second sentence, there are six clauses:
- He thinks (Main Clause)
- that he can do (Subordinate Clause)
- as he likes (Subordinate Clause)
- but (he) seldom knows (Main Clause)
- that others can also do (Subordinate Clause)
- as they like (Subordinate Clause)
Here, there are:
- Two Main Clauses
- Four Subordinate Clauses
A sentence that contains two Main Clauses and one or more Subordinate Clauses is known as a Compound–Complex Sentence.
Interchange of Simple, Complex and Compound Sentences
One important rule in grammar is:
Sentences can be transformed without altering their meaning. Let us understand how.
Interchange of Simple and Complex Sentences
Rule:
- To change a Simple Sentence into a Complex Sentence, expand a phrase into a Subordinate Clause.
- To change a Complex Sentence into a Simple Sentence, reduce a Clause into a phrase or word.
Examples:
- His absence is due to illness. (Simple)
- He is absent because he is ill. (Complex)
- Though he is poor, he is happy. (Complex)
- In spite of his poverty, he is happy. (Simple)
- Despite his poverty, he is happy. (Simple)
- In spite of being poor, he is happy. (Simple)
- Seeing the policeman, the thief ran away. (Simple)
- When he saw the policeman, the thief ran away. (Complex)
- He is so tired that he cannot walk. (Complex)
- He is too tired to walk. (Simple)
- John is strong enough to lift the table. (Simple)
- John is so strong that he can lift the table. (Complex)
- If you don’t work hard you cannot succeed. (Complex)
- You cannot succeed without (doing) hard work. (Simple)
- He is a man of great ability. (Simple)
- He is a man who has great ability. (Complex)
- I do not know when the accident took place. (Complex)
- I do not know the time of the accident. (Simple)
- It is an important point to contribute. (Simple)
- It is an important point which we should contribute. (Complex)
- Barking dogs seldom bite. (Simple)
- Dogs that bark do not always bite. (Complex)
- It is a matter deserving attention. (Simple)
- It is a matter that deserves attention. (Complex)
- He is not a man to be treated like this. (Simple)
- He is not a man who is to be treated like this. (Complex)
Interchange of Simple and Compound Sentences
Rule:
- To change a Simple Sentence into a Compound Sentence, expand a phrase into a Coordinate Clause.
- To change a Compound Sentence into a Simple Sentence, reduce a Coordinate Clause into a phrase or word.
Examples:
- His absence is due to illness. (Simple)
- He is ill, (and) so he is absent. (Compound)
- He is very tired, (and) so he cannot walk. (Compound)
- He is too tired to walk. (Simple)
- Besides being lazy, he is indifferent. (Simple)
- He is not only lazy but also indifferent. (Compound)
- He is very strong and can lift a trunk. (Compound)
- He is strong enough to lift a trunk. (Simple)
- He is as strong as to lift a trunk. (Simple)
Interchange of Complex and Compound Sentences
Rule:
- To change a Complex Sentence into a Compound Sentence, turn the Subordinate Clause into a Coordinate Clause.
- To change a Compound Sentence into a Complex Sentence, turn the Coordinate Clause into a Subordinate Clause.
Examples:
- Unless you practise regularly, you cannot become a good athlete. (Complex)
- Practise regularly or you cannot become a good athlete. (Compound)
- He wishes to become rich, so he works hard. (Compound)
- As he wishes to become rich, he works hard. (Complex)
- If you do not apologize, you will be punished. (Complex)
- Apologize, or you will be punished. (Compound)
- He was very strong, so he could beat all his opponents. (Compound)
- As he was very strong, he could beat all his opponents. (Complex)
Final Understanding
To master transformation of sentences, remember:
- Identify the Main Clause first.
- Identify Subordinate or Coordinate Clauses.
- Maintain the original meaning.
- Do not disturb tense or sense.
Transformation is not memorization.
It is structural understanding.
Once you understand clause structure clearly, you can confidently transform any sentence from one type to another.
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