Transformation Practice - Compound to Simple / Transforming Compound to Simple Rules and Exercises

Compound to Simple

✅ Compound to Simple Sentence Transformation

🔹 Rule 1: Same Subject + Main Verb Connected by "and" → Use Present Participle (-ing)

Rule:If both clauses have the same subject and are connected by “and”, change the second verb into its -ing form to create a simple sentence.

Explanation:The first clause remains as is, and the second action is turned into a participial phrase (verb + ing) to shorten the sentence.

Examples:

• Compound: The boy studied hard and made a good result.

• Simple: Studying hard, the boy made a good result.

• Compound: She finished her work and went home.

• Simple: Finishing her work, she went home.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: He opened the box and found a gift.

• Simple: Opening the box, he found a gift.

• Compound: They cleaned the room and arranged the furniture.

• Simple: Cleaning the room, they arranged the furniture.

• Compound: I collected the data and analyzed it.

• Simple: Collecting the data, I analyzed it.

🔹 Rule 2: Different Subjects, First Clause Has "Be" Verb → Use "Being"

Rule:If the subjects are different and the first clause uses a be verb (is, am, are, was, were), change the first clause using “being” + adjective/noun, and use a comma instead of “and.”

Explanation:The “being” form expresses a state or condition in a condensed way before the second clause.

Examples:

• Compound: The water is very cold and I cannot drink it.

• Simple: The water being very cold, I cannot drink it.

• Compound: The room was dark and we could not see anything.

• Simple: The room being dark, we could not see anything.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: The sum was difficult and I could not solve it.

• Simple: The sum being difficult, I could not solve it.

• Compound: The weather is bad and we are not going out.

• Simple: The weather being bad, we are not going out.

• Compound: The road was slippery and the car skidded.

• Simple: The road being slippery, the car skidded.

🔹 Rule 3: "Or" in Compound → Use "Without + -ing" | "And" → Use "By + -ing"

A. "Or" becomes "Without + -ing"

Explanation:Use “without + verb-ing” to show consequence if the first action isn’t done.

Examples:

• Compound: Work hard or you cannot prosper in life.

• Simple: Without working hard, you cannot prosper in life.

• Compound: Practice regularly or you will fail.

• Simple: Without practising regularly, you will fail.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: Study attentively or you will not pass.

• Simple: Without studying attentively, you will not pass.

• Compound: Hurry up or you will miss the train.

• Simple: Without hurrying up, you will miss the train.

• Compound: Work sincerely or you won’t get promoted.

• Simple: Without working sincerely, you won’t get promoted.

B. "And" becomes "By + -ing"

Examples:

• Compound: Work hard and you can succeed.

• Simple: By working hard, you can succeed.

• Compound: Follow the rules and you will stay safe.

• Simple: By following the rules, you will stay safe.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: Study smart and you will improve.

• Simple: By studying smart, you will improve.

• Compound: Eat well and you will stay healthy.

• Simple: By eating well, you will stay healthy.

• Compound: Save money and you will be rich.

• Simple: By saving money, you will be rich.

🔹 Rule 4: "But" → Use "In spite of" or "Despite"

Rule:If two clauses are connected by “but”, express the contrast using “in spite of” or “despite” followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form).

Examples:

• Compound: He walked fast but he missed the train.

• Simple: In spite of walking fast, he missed the train.

• Compound: He is rich but he is honest.

• Simple: In spite of being rich, he is honest.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: She studied well but failed.

• Simple: In spite of studying well, she failed.

• Compound: They are poor but happy.

• Simple: In spite of being poor, they are happy.

• Compound: He worked hard but didn't pass.

• Simple: In spite of working hard, he didn't pass.

🔹 Rule 5: Intention or Desire in Second Clause → Use Infinitive (to + verb)

Rule:When the second clause shows intention, goal, or desire, use an infinitive (to + verb) to make it simple.

Examples:

• Compound: He works hard and he wants to prosper in life.

• Simple: He works hard to prosper in life.

• Compound: She studied hard and she wanted to pass the exam.

• Simple: She studied hard to pass the exam.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: They helped him and they wanted him to succeed.

• Simple: They helped him to succeed.

• Compound: He trains daily and wants to become a soldier.

• Simple: He trains daily to become a soldier.

• Compound: I visited him and wanted to check on his health.

• Simple: I visited him to check on his health.

🔹 Rule 6: "Not only...but also" → Use "Besides + -ing"

Rule:Replace "not only... but also" with “besides + verb-ing” to create a simple sentence.

Examples:

• Compound: They not only punished him but also fined him.

• Simple: Besides punishing him, they fined him.

• Compound: She not only cleaned the house but also cooked food.

• Simple: Besides cleaning the house, she cooked food.

Additional Examples:

• Compound: He not only won the race but also broke the record.

• Simple: Besides winning the race, he broke the record.

• Compound: They not only supported us but also gave money.

• Simple: Besides supporting us, they gave money.

• Compound: She not only teaches but also motivates students.

• Simple: Besides teaching, she motivates students.

🔹 Other Useful Transformations

**1. Compound: It was twenty years ago and I was living in Dhaka.

Simple: Twenty years ago, I was living in Dhaka.

**2. Compound: He will come and it is certain.

Simple: Certainly, he will come.

**3. Compound: He will succeed and I am sure of it.

Simple: I am sure of his success.

Compound to Simple

Transform the following compound sentences into simple.

1.        They fade soon and lose their beauty.

2.        The dacoit sensed the presence of the neighbours and attempted to flee

3.        It ennobles one's character and gives one high position in society.

4.        We read books and learn new things.

5.        Little boys and girls make merriment and amuse themselves.

6.        Every morning I go to the garden and take care of it.

7.     It was evening and the shops were dazzling with bright lights.

8.        The culprit ran away and escaped himself.

9.        The sun had set and we went home.

10.    He is healthy but he does not work at all.

11.    He had all the qualifications but he did not get a job.

12.    He behaved rough but he was not punished.

13.   The farmers worked day and night but they could not grow a good harvest.

14.   I was ill and I could not attend the meeting.

15.    Write much or you cannot write well.

16.    Walk fast or you cannot get the train.

17.    I called him but he did not answer.

18.    It flies from flower to flower and collects honey.

19.    She repaid the first installment and bought food and clothes for her children.

20.    She is hard working and does not waste time.

21.   He turned back and slowly went to the lion.

22.  They spend most of the time before TV set and waste their precious time.

23.  She is polite and so she behaves well .

24.    They hide themselves and coo from the high branches of trees.

25.    Love is divine so everybody wants it.

26.     She got into the lift and pressed the button B. 27.

27.    He killed a young boar instead and took its lungs and liver to the queen.

Answer: 

Compound to Simple

Transform the following compound sentences into simple.

1.  Fading soon they lose their beauty.

2.       Sensing the presence of the neighbours the dacoit attempted to flee.

3.       Ennobling one’s character ,it gives one high position in society

4.       Reading books we learn new things.

5.       Making merriment little boys and girls amuse themselves.

6.       Every morning going to the garden I take care of it.

7.       In the evening the shops were dazzling with bright lights

8.       Running away the culprit escaped himself

9.       The sun having set, we went home.

10.   In spite of being healthy ,he does not work at all.

11.   In spite of having all the qualification he did not get a job.

12.   In spite of behaving rough he was not punished.

13.   In spite of working day and night, the farmers could not grow a good harvest.

14.   Being ill I could not attend the meeting.

15.   Without writing much you cannot write well.

16.   Without walking fast you cannot get the train

17.   He didn’t answer in spite of my calling.

18.   Flying from flower to flower it collects honey.

19.   Repaying the first instalment she bought food and clothes for her children

20.   Being hard working, he does not waste time.

21.   Returning back, he slowly went to the lion.

22.   Spending most of the time before TV set, they waste their precious time

23.   Being polite she behaves well 

24.   Hiding themselves, they coo from the high branches of trees.

25.   Love being divine everybody wants it.

26.   Getting into the lift, he pressed the button B.27

27.   . Killing a young boar, he took its lungs and liver to the queen.