Compound to Simple & Simple to Compound

Foolish Assumptions

We make some inescapable assumptions about you and your knowledge, including the following:

✦ You have good knowledge about the basics of grammar especially the five clause components, formation and function of noun phrase, adjective phrase, adverbial phrases, participle phrase and prepositional phrase.

✦ You know well about the seven coordinating conjunctions and how they join two independent clauses to form compound sentences.

Quick Recap

Before we proceed to learn how to change sentences from complex to compound & simple, let us first recall what simple and compound sentences are:

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence is a group of words that has only one clause. That is, a simple sentence has only one subject and one finite verb. The following sentences are simple:

Jake went in the forbidden island. 

He discovered a hidden cave. 

The cave was dangerous. 

Yet, he entered the cave.

He solved some cunning puzzles.

Then he unearthed a chest brimming with jewels.

There was a victorious grin on his face.

He sailed into the sunset, riches in tow.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentences has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. 

Jake went in the forbidden island and discovered a hidden cave. 

The cave was dangerous, but he entered the cave.

He easily solved some cunning puzzles, and he unearthed a chest brimming with jewels.

There was a victorious grin on his face, for he sailed into the sunset, riches in tow.

Now let us see how we can transform sentences from/ into simple, complex & compound:

To convert a compound sentence into simple, we reduce the first independent clause into a phrase. The second clause remains unchanged.

Here's a general guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Identify the two clauses.

Step 2: Reduce the first independent clause into a phrase of same meaning.

Now, let's take some compound sentences and then convert them into simple sentences.

Example 1 

Original Compound Sentence: He is rich but greedy.

Step 1: Identifying Two Clauses

First Independent Clause: He is rich

Second Independent Clause: [he is] greedy

Step 2: Reducing Independent Clause into a Phrase of Same Meaning.

Simple: In spite of being rich, he is greedy. [The first independent clause is reduced into a prepositional phrase.]

Example 2 

Original Compound Sentence: I wanted to learn English; so, I went to London.

Step 1: Identifying Two Clauses

First Independent Clause: I wanted to learn English

Second Independent Clause: I went to London

Step 2: Reducing Independent Clause into a Phrase of Same Meaning.

Simple: I went to London to learn English. [The first independent clause is reduced into a prepositional phrase.]

Example 3 

Original Compound Sentence: Read attentively or you will fail in the exam.

Step 1: Identifying Two Clauses

First Independent Clause: Read attentively

Second Independent Clause: you will fail in the exam

Step 2: Reducing Independent Clause into a Phrase of Same Meaning.

Simple: I went to London to learn English. [The first independent clause is reduced into a prepositional phrase.]

Simple: Without reading attentively, you will fail in the exam.