A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. Common examples of coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so.A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more dependent clauses. In a complex sentence we use a subordinating conjunction to connect the dependent clause to the main clause. Common examples of subordinating conjunctions are: as, when, while, because, since, after, before, although, though, if, whether, unless and until.
We can change a compound sentence into a complex sentence by replacing the coordinating conjunction with a subordinating conjunction. Study the examples given below.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conjunction.
1The doctor must come at once, ............... the patient will die.
Wrong!
Use "or" to show the bad result if the first action does not happen.
2............... the doctor does not come at once, the patient will die.
Wrong!
Use "If" to introduce a possible condition and its result.
3Gandhi believed in non-violence, ............... some of his followers were extremists.
Wrong!
Use "but" to contrast Gandhi's belief with his followers' behaviour.
4............... Gandhi believed in non-violence, some of his followers were extremists.
Wrong!
Use "Though" to begin a dependent clause that contrasts with the main clause.
5Search his pockets, ............... you will find the stolen watch.
Wrong!
Use "and" after an imperative to show the result of doing it.
6............... you search his pockets, you will find the stolen watch.
Wrong!
Use "If" to introduce the condition for finding the stolen watch.
7You must hurry, ............... you will miss the train.
Wrong!
Use "or" to show the negative result if the listener does not hurry.
8............... you do not hurry, you will miss the train.
Wrong!
Use "If" to introduce the condition that leads to missing the train.
9He wants to be a scholar, ............... he is studying hard.
Wrong!
Use "so" to show the result of wanting to be a scholar.
10............... he wants to be a scholar, he is studying hard.
Wrong!
Use "As" to introduce the reason for studying hard.
Exercise complete
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Answers
- The doctor must come at once, or the patient will die.
- If the doctor does not come at once, the patient will die.
- Gandhi believed in non-violence, but some of his followers were extremists.
- Though Gandhi believed in non-violence, some of his followers were extremists.
- Search his pockets, and you will find the stolen watch.
- If you search his pockets, you will find the stolen watch.
- You must hurry, or you will miss the train.
- If you do not hurry, you will miss the train.
- He wants to be a scholar, so he is studying hard.
- As he wants to be a scholar, he is studying hard.