There are four types of sentences, and in the interest of varying sentence structure students should learn how to convert from one sentence type to another. This can be confusing but using a complex sentence maker will simplify the task.
Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences
Of the four sentence types the ones you will encounter most often are the simple sentence, the compound sentence and the complex sentence.
- Simple sentence. A simple sentence as the name suggests is a sentence in its most basic form. It is a single independent clause with a subject and a predicate. It will consist of a subject and verb (SV) or a subject, a verb and an object (SVO).
- Example: James kicked the ball.
- Compound sentence. A compound sentence is made up of at least two independent clauses that contain related ideas. The independent clauses may be joined by a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or by a semicolon.
- Example: My friends were all busy, so I went to the movie alone.
- Example: My friends were all busy; I went to the movie alone.
- Complex sentence. A complex sentence has an independent clause and one or more dependents clauses. Unlike the independent clause, a dependent clause can’t stand on its own as a sentence. If the independent clause comes first in the sentence the independent and dependent clause requires subordinating conjunction (after, while, since, etc.) to join them. If the dependent clause comes first the two clauses can be joined by a comma.
- Example: Bill returned the computer after he noticed it was damaged.
- Example: Because he noticed it was damaged, Bill returned the computer.
Top 10 Rules on Sentence Transformation
There will be times when your paper is best served by converting from one sentence type to another. Here are the top 10 rules for sentence transformation.
- Convert a complex sentence to a simple sentence by reducing a noun clause into a noun phrase
- Complex: Tell us when ceremony will be held.
- Simple: Tell us the date of the ceremony.
- Convert a complex sentence to a simple sentence by reducing an adjective clause into a phrase
- Complex: The countertop that is made of marble was bought from Italy.
- Simple: The marble countertop was bought from Italy.
- Convert a complex sentence to a simple sentence by reducing an adverb clause into a phrase
- Complex: Jim was so weak that he could not walk.
- Simple: Jim was too weak to walk.
- Convert a compound sentence into a simple sentence by using a prepositional phrase
- Compound: He is English by birth, but he speaks Japanese like his mother tongue.
- Simple: In spite of being English by birth, he speaks Japanese like his mother tongue.
- Convert a compound sentence into a simple sentence by using a participle phrase
- Compound: Steve got up and walked away.
- Simple: Getting up, Steve walked away.
- Convert a compound sentence into a simple sentence by using an infinitive phrase
- Compound: You must exercise daily, or you will not become physically strong.
- Simple: You must exercise daily to become physically strong.
- Convert a simple sentence into a complex sentence by expanding each word or phrase into a noun clause
- Simple: Jim confessed his crime.
- Complex: Jim confessed that he had committed the crime.
- Convert a simple sentence into a complex sentence by expanding the words and phrases into the adjective clause
- Simple: A dead man tells no tales.
- Complex: A man who is dead tells no tales.
- Convert a simple sentence into a complex sentence by expanding the word or phrase into an adverb clause
- Simple: Being wealthy, he can afford this expensive hotel.
- Complex: As he is wealthy, he can afford this expensive hotel.
- Convert a simple sentence into a compound sentence by using cumulative conjunctions such as “and”, “not only”, etc.
- Simple: Removing his clothes, he dived into the lake.
- Compound: He removed his clothes and dived into the lake.
The rules for transforming one type of sentence into another can be confusing. If you are unsure how to change a simple sentence to a compound, complex sentence or are experiencing problems with sentence transformation you may want to try using an online simple English sentence changer when editing.
Editing Strategies for Checking Simple and Complex Sentences
The following are some techniques and approaches you can use when editing simple and complex sentences.
- Learn the difference between an independent clause and a dependent (subordinate) clause. Independent clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence. Dependent clauses can’t.
- Memorize the 7 conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) for joining two independent clauses. You can easily remember them using the acronym FANBOYS.
- Check if the dependent clause in the complex sentence comes before or after the independent clause. If the dependent clause is first the two clauses can be joined by a comma. When the dependent clause follows the independent clause a subordinating conjunction must be used.
- Become familiar with the three types of subordinate clauses. The adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, the adverb clause modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb and a noun clause is used as a noun in independent clauses
- Mix up your sentences. Don’t just use only simple sentences or only complex sentences. Use a combination of simple, complex and compound sentences when you write
- Read sentences out loud. It is often easier to detect mistakes when you hear them spoken than when you see them on paper or your computer screen.
If you are unfamiliar with all the different sentence parts and need help with sentence structure try using a sentence breakdown tool such as the one we offer.
About Our Convert Complex Sentence to Simple App
How do I rephrase my sentence is a question students frequently ask. You can convert simple English to professional English and other rephrasing tasks using our complicated sentence generator. Because of the many features it has, the proper sentence structure checker we offer is the ideal tool for proofreading and editing sentences.
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Using Our Complex Sentence Changer
Whether you need a sentence converter from simple to complex or to join two independent clauses our sentence combiner tool is up to the job. Changing the structure of sentences is often necessary to improve clarity, to correct errors or to avoid text that is too similar to others. Our proper sentence structure checker can detect errors like sentence fragments, missing subordinating conjunctions and independent clauses improperly joined. It will then recommend corrections to fix the sentence structure problem. Using the tool is simple.
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