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Changing Simple into Complex Sentences
Changing Simple into Complex
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Simple sentences can be converted to complex ones by expanding words or
phrases into subordinate clauses.
Simple sentences can be converted to complex ones by expanding words or
phrases into subordinate clauses.
A few examples are given here:
Complex: I know what his name is
Simple: He came at 5 pm.
Complex: It was 5 pm when he came.
Simple: I am sure of passing.
Complex: I am sure that l shall pass.
Simple: His silence proves his guilt.
Complex: His silence proves that he is guilty. The tact that he
is silent proves his guilt.
Simple: You may criticise my action.
Complex: You may criticise what l do.
Simple: He hoped to win the prize.
Complex: He hoped that he would win the piize.
Complex: The house in which we live at present suits us.
Simple: He is a rich man.
Complex: He is a man who is rich.
Simple: I had exactly sixty pounds in the bank
Complex: Sixty pounds was the exact amount I had in the bank.
Or, The amount I had in the bank was exactly sixty pounds.
Simple: I have no money to spare.
Complex: I have no money that I can spare.
Complex: He is so weak that he cannot walk.
Simplex: In spite of his poverty, he is happy.
Complex: Though he is poor, he is happy.
Simple: They will pay only under compulsion.
Complex: The will never pay unless they are compelled.
Simple: Only students are allowed here.
Complex: You can be allowed ‘here only if you are a student.
Simple: During my stay there I was quite well.
Complex: I was quite well so long as I stayed there.
Simple: I do not know the name of this place.
Complex: I do not know what the name of this place is.
Simple: He told me the truth.
Complex: He told me what the truth is.
Simple: I wish you every success.
Complex: I wish that you would succeed in every case.
Simple: He admitted his mistake.
Complex: He admitted that he had mistaken./ He admitted what his mistake was.
Simple: Can you tell me the time?
Complex: Can you tell me what the time is?
Simple: He seems to be angry.
Complex: He seems that he is angry.
Simple: I want to go home.
Complex: I want that I go home.
Simple: I know the manner of doing it.
Complex: I know that the manner of doing it is known to me./ I know that I can do it.
Simple: We hope for an early shower.
Complex: We hope that we will get an early answer.
Simple: The report of his illness is true.
Complex: The true report is that he is ill.
Simple: He has got his dues.
Complex: He has got what his dues was.
Simple: I owe my success to him.
Complex: I owe to him what my success is.
(a) Noun Clause
Simple: I know his nameComplex: I know what his name is
Simple: He came at 5 pm.
Complex: It was 5 pm when he came.
Simple: I am sure of passing.
Complex: I am sure that l shall pass.
Simple: His silence proves his guilt.
Complex: His silence proves that he is guilty. The tact that he
is silent proves his guilt.
Simple: You may criticise my action.
Complex: You may criticise what l do.
Simple: He hoped to win the prize.
Complex: He hoped that he would win the piize.
(b) Adjective Clause
Simple: Our present house suits us.Complex: The house in which we live at present suits us.
Simple: He is a rich man.
Complex: He is a man who is rich.
Simple: I had exactly sixty pounds in the bank
Complex: Sixty pounds was the exact amount I had in the bank.
Or, The amount I had in the bank was exactly sixty pounds.
Simple: I have no money to spare.
Complex: I have no money that I can spare.
(c) Adverbial Clause
Simple: He is too weak to walk.Complex: He is so weak that he cannot walk.
Simplex: In spite of his poverty, he is happy.
Complex: Though he is poor, he is happy.
Simple: They will pay only under compulsion.
Complex: The will never pay unless they are compelled.
Simple: Only students are allowed here.
Complex: You can be allowed ‘here only if you are a student.
Simple: During my stay there I was quite well.
Complex: I was quite well so long as I stayed there.
Review 1
Let's convert the following Simple sentences to Complex ones, each containing a Noun clause.Simple: I do not know the name of this place.
Complex: I do not know what the name of this place is.
Simple: He told me the truth.
Complex: He told me what the truth is.
Simple: I wish you every success.
Complex: I wish that you would succeed in every case.
Simple: He admitted his mistake.
Complex: He admitted that he had mistaken./ He admitted what his mistake was.
Simple: Can you tell me the time?
Complex: Can you tell me what the time is?
Simple: He seems to be angry.
Complex: He seems that he is angry.
Simple: I want to go home.
Complex: I want that I go home.
Simple: I know the manner of doing it.
Complex: I know that the manner of doing it is known to me./ I know that I can do it.
Simple: We hope for an early shower.
Complex: We hope that we will get an early answer.
Simple: The report of his illness is true.
Complex: The true report is that he is ill.
Simple: He has got his dues.
Complex: He has got what his dues was.
Simple: I owe my success to him.
Complex: I owe to him what my success is.
