Changing Simple Sentences into Complex Using Adverbial Clauses [Part 1]

🔄 How to Change a Simple Sentence into a Complex Sentence

We can change simple sentences into complex sentences in three different ways: 

1. By turning an adjective or participle phrase into a relative clause.
2. By turning an adverb or adverbial phrase into an adverbial clause. 
3. By using noun clause.

Forming Complex Sentences with Adverb Clauses

(i) Adverb Clause of Purpose

• A simple sentence may use an infinitive of purpose: to + verb (e.g., to live, to win, to succeed).
• To change it into a complex sentence, we use a subordinate clause starting with so that, followed by a subject and verb.

📚 How to Do It:

• Find the infinitive of purpose – “to + verb.”
• Replace "to + verb" with "so that + subject + can/may + verb" to form a complete purpose clause.

🧠 Tip for Students:

• Use “so that” to explain why the action is done.
• You can use can, may, could, or might depending on the tense and meaning.

✅ Examples:

Simple: She studies to pass the exam.
Complex: She studies so that she may pass the exam.

Simple: We eat healthy food to stay fit.
Complex: We eat healthy food so that we can stay fit.

Simple: They practiced daily to win the match.
Complex: They practiced daily so that they could win the match.

Simple: I wake up early to catch the bus.
Complex: I wake up early so that I can catch the bus.

Exercise 1: Infinitive Phrase of Purpose

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the infinitive phrase of purpose into an adverbial clause of purpose:

• a) She studies hard to pass the exam.
• b) He works to earn money.
• c) We practice daily to win the match.
• d) They run to keep fit.
• e) I wake up early to catch the bus.
• f) She cooks to feed her family.
• g) He reads books to gain knowledge.
• h) They save money to buy a house.
• i) We recycle to protect the environment.
• j) He trains hard to become a soldier.

(ii) Adverb Clause of Time

• A simple sentence may use words like before, after, when, while, till, or until to show time.
• To make it a complex sentence, use an adverb clause that begins with when, while, before, after, until, or as soon as, followed by a subject and verb.

📚 How to Do It:

• Find the time word in the sentence.
• Add a subject and verb after the time word to make a full clause.

✅ Examples:

Simple: Before eating, he washed his hands.
Complex: He had washed his hands before he ate.

Simple: After finishing homework, she played.
Complex: She played after she had finished her homework.

Simple: On reaching home, I called her.
Complex: I called her when I reached home.

🧠 Tip for Students:

Time words tell when something happens. Add more detail by telling who did what at that time.

Exercise 2: Adverb Phrase of Time

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the time phrase into an adverbial clause of time:

• a) Before sleeping, she brushed her teeth.
• b) After dinner, we went for a walk.
• c) During the holidays, they visited their grandparents.
• d) Before the exam, he revised all chapters.
• e) After breakfast, she left for school.
• f) While waiting, I read a book.
• g) After sunset, the stars appeared.
• h) Before leaving, he locked the door.
• i) At midnight, the baby cried.
• j) After school, they played football.
• k) We moved to this city in 2015.
• l) He will return after lunch.
• m) She studied until midnight.
• n) They arrived before the show.
• o) He goes jogging every morning.
• p) I visited my grandma during the summer.
• q) She learned to swim at an early age.
• r) He completed the work in two hours.
• s) We celebrate our victory every year.
• t) The baby woke up at dawn.

• A simple sentence may use a word or phrase that tells where something happens.
• To make it complex, use an adverb clause starting with where or wherever, followed by a subject and verb.

📚 How to Do It:

• Use where + subject + verb to show the place more clearly.

✅ Examples:

Simple: He sat near the window.
Complex: He sat where the window was. [Or: It was near the window where he sat.]

Simple: They live in a village.
Complex: It is in a village where they live.

Simple: The child goes to school.
Complex: It is school where the child goes to.

🧠 Tip for Students:

“Where” tells the place. Use it to describe where something happens in full.

Exercise 3: Adverb Phrase of Place

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the adverbial phrase of place into an adverbial clause of place:

• a) He sat under the tree.
• b) The book is on the table.
• c) She walked into the room.
• d) They played outside the house.
• e) The cat slept beside the sofa.
• f) He looked across the river.
• g) She stood behind the curtain.
• h) The dog barked at the gate.
• i) We found him near the park.
• j) He hid under the bed.

(iv) Adverb Clause of Reason

• A simple sentence may have words like because of or due to.
• Change it into a complex sentence using because, since, or as, followed by a subject and verb.

📚 How to Do It:

• Replace the reason phrase with a full clause starting with because/since/as.

✅ Examples:

Simple: He was punished for being late.
Complex: He was punished because he was late.

Simple: She cried due to pain.
Complex: She cried because she was in pain.

Simple: They were happy because of the news.
Complex: They were happy because they heard the good news.

🧠 Tip for Students:

• Use because to say why something happened.

Exercise 4: Adverb Phrase of Reason

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the adverbial phrase of reason into an adverbial clause of reason:

• a) He was scolded for not doing homework.
• b) She cried for losing her doll.
• c) They were punished for cheating.
• d) I stayed home for feeling sick.
• e) He was praised for helping others.
• f) We were late for missing the bus.
• g) She got sick for eating too much.
• h) He failed for not studying.
• i) They were angry for being ignored.
• j) The plant died for lack of water.
• k) He missed the bus because of traffic.
• l) She cried due to the pain.
• m) We stayed inside because of the storm.
• n) The match was cancelled due to rain.
• o) He failed the test because of laziness.
• p) They were punished for misbehaving.
• q) She was praised for her honesty.
• r) He lost the job because of his attitude.
• s) The picnic was delayed due to bad weather.
• t) She was absent because of illness.

Exercise in Action [Grade 9 & 10]

(i) Adverbial Phrase of Purpose / Infinitive Phrase of Purpose

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the adverbial phrase of reason into an adverbial clause of reason:

1. They came here to enjoy themselves. (Complex)
2. So, we should be aware to prevent air pollution. (Complex)
3. We should read books to gain knowledge. (complex) 
4. They came here to enjoy themselves. (Complex)
5. She reads more to flourish her dream. (Complex)
6. He wants to be a doctor to serve people. (Complex)
7. My friend invited me to pay a visit to Cox's Bazar. (Complex) 
8. Steps are needed to keep price hike under control. (Complex)
9. So, they should work hard to improve their condition. (complex)
10. I was earning a little to keep body and soul together. (Complex) 
11. We have to remove poverty to check child abuse (Complex)
12. During his lifetime, he spent money lavishly to help the poor. (Complex)
13. I asked my friends to select the items. (Complex)
14. We need educational institutions to provide for the increasing number of students. (complex)
15. So, avoid anger in order to be happy. (Complex)
16. He reads more to be a doctor. (Complex)
17. Steps are needed to keep price hike under control. (Complex)
18. They come here to enjoy themselves. (Complex)
19. I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. (Complex)
20. Farmers use this animal to cultivate their fields. (Complex)

(ii) Adverb Phrase of Time / Prepositional Phrase of TIME

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the time phrase into an adverbial clause of time:

1. During his lifetime, he spent money lavishly to help the poor. (Complex)
2. I decided to go there during summer vacation. (Make complex sentence)
3. He became a sailor in his boyhood. (complex)
4. In winter birds come to our country from Siberia. (Complex) 
5. He came to the orphanage at four. (Complex)
6. Every year a book fair is held at Bangla Academy in Dhaka. (Complex)
7. We have rain during the monsoon. (make it a complex sentence) 
8. I went over during the interval. (Complex) 

(iii) Adverb Phrase of Place / Prepositional Phrase of PLACE

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the phrase of place into a clause of place:

1. Mother Teressa set up Nirmal Hridoy at Kolkata. (Complex) 
2. In winter birds come to our country from Siberia. (Complex)
3. On the way he took shelter in a courtier's house. (Complex) 
4. On his way back home, Saadi again took shelter in the same courtier's house. (Complex)  
5. The Royal Bengal Tiger lives in the Sundarbans. (Complex)

(iv) Adverb Phrase of Reason

Turn the following simple sentences into complex by turning the phrase of reason into a clause of reason:

1. Because of foreign language, the students fail in English. (complex)
2. Seeing him in an ordinary dress, the courtier and his men did not show much honour and hospitality to him. (Compound) 
3. Being a trusted person, he was highly respectable everywhere. (Make it compound) 
4. Being defeated for six times, Robert Bruce lost all hope. (Compound)
5. Seeing Mushin, the thief cried. (Compound)

Exercise 2 [Grade 9 & 10]

Turn the following simple sentences into complex:

1. My friend invited me to pay a visit to Cox’s Bazar. (Complex)
2. Every year a lot of people come to visit it. (Complex)
3. We need flowers to decorate a place. (Complex)
4. During his lifetime, he spent money lavishly to help the poor. (Complex)
5. We should read books to acquire knowledge. (Complex)
6. At the same year he was sent to the Grammar School of Hawkshead for education. (Complex)
7. Ruplal decided to go and live alone in the jungle in order to find peace. (Complex)
8. My friend invited me to pay a visit to Cox’s Bazar. (Complex)
9. The National memorial has been built with a view to paying tribute to their memories. (Complex)
10. We should read books to gain knowledge. (Complex)
11. A student should attempt to answer all the questions to get good marks. (Complex)
12. He disguised himself as a poor traveler to survive. (Complex)
13. She worked hard to shine in life. (Complex)
14. We have to create social awareness to fight against corruption. (Complex)
15. Little boys and girls make merriment to enjoy themselves. (Complex)
16. A student should try to answer all the questions to do good in the exam. (Complex)
17. We drink water to satisfy our thirst. (Complex)
18. He was born at Cumberland on April 4, 1770 (Complex).
19. He goes to class after taking preparation. (Complex)
20. She also helped her mother in her free time. (Complex)
21. We have rain during the monsoon. (Complex)
22. But during the rainy season, the river assumes a terrible shape. (Complex)
23. She set up “Nirmal Hridoy” in Kolkata. (Complex sentence)
24. He was born in Hoogly. (Complex)
25. Having sweet scent and beauty, we love it very much. (Complex)
26. Seeing Muhsin, the thief cried. (Complex)
27. Because of its usefulness, it has become very popular. (Complex)
28. People spend their free time by watching television. (Complex)
29. Once upon a time two friends were passing by a forest. (Complex)
30. The first friend climbed up a tree. (Complex)
31. Entering the kingdom of the prince, he captured a large village. (Complex)
32. Many educational institutions are greatly benefited through the use of Internet. (Complex) 
33. The game is played between two teams each consisting of eleven players. (Complex)