Ways of combining two or more simple sentences into one simple sentence
By using a preposition + noun / gerund
Study the following sentences.
- She had many shortcomings. But she was a nice woman.
- In spite of having many shortcomings, she was a nice woman.
- Tagore was a great poet. He was a good painter.
- Besides being a great poet, Tagore was a good painter.
By using an adverb or adverbial phrase
- He will win the first prize. That is certain.
- He will certainly win the first prize.
- They decided to start a business. All agreed to this.
- Theyunanimously decided to start a business.
Exercise
Complete the following sentences.
1............... many shortcomings, she was a nice woman.
Wrong!
Use "In spite of having" before a noun or gerund phrase to show contrast.
2............... a great poet, Tagore was a good painter.
Wrong!
Use "Besides being" to add another fact about Tagore.
3............... a jackpot, he built a big mansion.
Wrong!
Use "Having won" to show that winning happened before he built the mansion.
4............... on tip-toe, he reached for the apple.
Wrong!
Use "Standing" as a participle phrase describing what he was doing when he reached.
5The rain ..............., we continued our journey.
Wrong!
Use "having stopped" in an absolute phrase to show the rain had ended before the journey continued.
6James is going to the US ............... higher education.
Wrong!
Use "to pursue" to express James's purpose for going to the US.
7............... a great conqueror, Caesar failed to unite the conquered territories into a well-knit empire.
Wrong!
Use "Despite being" before a noun phrase to introduce a contrast.
Answers
- In spite of having many shortcomings, she was a nice woman.
- Besides being a great poet, Tagore was a good painter.
- Having won a jackpot, he built a big mansion.
- Standing on tip-toe, he reached for the apple.
- The rain having stopped, we continued our journey.
- James is going to the US to pursue higher education.
- Despite being a great conqueror, Caesar failed to unite the conquered territories into a well-knit empire.
