Sentences

SENTENCES : SIMPLE, COMPOUND, AND COMPLEX

Examine the following sentences:-

His courage won him honour.

The moon was bright and we could see our way.

Night came on and rain fell heavily and we all got very wet.

They rested when evening came.

As the boxers advanced into the ring, the people said they would not allow them to fight.

Anil called at 5.30 and I told him that you had gone out.

We see that sentence 1 has only one Subject and one Predicate, Such a sentence is called a Simple Sentence.

Def: - A Simple sentence is one which has only one Subject and one Predicate.

[Or] A simple sentence is one which has only one Subject and one Predicate.

Sentence 2 consists of two parts :

The moon was bright.

We could sec our way.

These two parts are joined by the Co-ordinating Conjunction and.

Each part contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own. Each part is what we call a Clause.

We further notice that each Clause makes good sense by itself, and hence could stand by itself as a separate sentence. Each Clause is therefore independent of the other or of the same order or rank, and is called a Principal or Main Clause.

A sentence, such as the second, which is made up of Principal or Main Clauses, is called a Compound Sentence.

Sentence 3 consists of three Clauses of the same order or rank. In other words, sentence 3 consists of three Principal or Main Clauses, viz:

Night came on

          Rain fell heavily

          We all got very wet. Such a sentence is also called a Compound sentence.

Def:- A Compound sentence is one made up of two or more Principal or Main Clauses.

Note:- The term Double is now used for a sentence which consists of two principal or main clauses, and the term Multiple for a sentence of more than two principal or main clauses.

Sentence 4 consists of two parts:-

(i) They rested.

(ii) When evening came.

Each part contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and forms part of a large sentence. Each part is therefore a Clause.

We further notice that the Clause, They rested, makes good sense by itself, and hence could stand by itself as a complete sentence. It is therefore called the Principal or Main Clause.

The Clause, when evening came, cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is dependent on the Clause, they rested. It is therefore called a Dependent or Subordinate Clause.

A sentence, such as the fourth, is called a Complex Sentence

Sentence 5 consists of three Clauses:-

The people said. (Main Clause).

          As the boxers advanced into the ring. (Subordinate Adverb Clause.)

         They would not allow them to fight. (Subordinate Noun Clause.)

Such a sentence is also called a Complex sentence. Def:- A Complex sentence consists of one Main Clause and one or more Subordinate Clauses.

Sentence 6 consists of three Clauses:-

Anil called at 5.30 (Main Clause)

          I mid him (Main Clause)

         That you had gone out (Subordinate Noun Clause)

Such a sentence is also called a Compound sentence.

In addition to two or three Main clauses, a compound Sentence sometimes includes one or more subordinate Clauses.

Look at the following Compound sentences, and notice the Co-ordinating Conjunctions joining clauses of equal rank:-

I shall do it now or I shall not do it at all.

He gave them no money nor did he help them in any way.

He threw the stone but it missed the dog.

He neither obtains success nor deserves it.

He is cither mad or he has become a criminal.

I both thanked him and rewarded him.

Exercise

State which of the following sentences are Compound, and which are Complex. In the case of a Compound sentence separate the co-ordinating clauses of which it is composed, and mention the conjunction, connecting these clauses. If a sentence is Complex divide it into its clauses, and state the Principal Clause and the Subordinate Clause or clauses:-

The horse reared and the rider was thrown.

Walk quickly, else you will not overtake him.

The town in which I live is very large.

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

I agree to your proposals, for I think them reasonable.

I went because I was invited.

Either he is drowned or some passing ship has saved him.

1 returned home because I was tired.

They always talk who never think.

He came oftener than we expected.

He blushes; therefore he is guilty.

A guest is unwelcome when he stays too long.

Whatever you do, do well.

He must have done his duty, for he is a conscientious man.

He rushed into the field, and foremost fighting fell.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.

Listen carefully and take notes.

The heavens declare, the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

He tried hard, but he did not succeed.

She must weep or she will die.

They serve God well who serve His creatures.

Man is guided by reason, and beast by instinct.

Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.

God made the country and man made the town.

He trudged on, though he was very tired.

There was one philosopher who chose to live in a tub.

The Commons passed the bill, but the Lords threw it out.

Tell me the news as you have heard.

He that has most time has none to lose.

Your arguments are weighty; still they do not convince me.

Everything comes, if a man will only work and wait.

The same day went Jesus out of the horse, and sat by the sea-side.

We must eat to live, but we should not live to eat.

Govern your passions or they will govern you.

They [rats] fought the dogs, and killed the cats. And bit the babies in the cradles,

And ate the cheese out of the vats.

And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles.

My heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky.