Question

Find out which of the following sentences are simple, compound or complex. Break up each compound or complex sentence into clauses.
i) Walk quickly else you will not overtake them.
ii) She does not blush therefore, she is not guilty.
iii) The buses are usually full in this capital city.
iv) They came because they were invited.
v) A guest is not welcome when he stays too long.
vi) They never think who always talk.
vii) He could not give me all the necessary books on time.
viii) She was neither wise nor pretty.
ix) The teacher called him twice but he gave no answer.
x) We shall agree to what you propose.

Answer 1

Hint: We can identify the type of sentences as:
- A simple sentence is a sentence that has only one independent clause.
- A compound sentence is a sentence that has two or more commas, semicolon or colon.
 a complex sentence is a sentence that has one independent clause and one or more than one dependent clause.

Complete answer:
Let us first know a few rules:
i) Independent clause - Clause having both subject and predicate. It can stand alone and thus it is a complete sentence.
ii) Dependent clause - clause having subject and verb but not a predicate. It can't stand alone.
iii) Independent clauses in compound sentences are combined by coordinating conjunction(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
iv) Coordinating conjunction cannot be used at the beginning of a sentence.
v) Independent and dependent clauses in complex sentences are combined by subordinating conjunction(when, until, because, while, if, although, after etc.).
vi) Subordinating conjunction cannot be used at the beginning of a sentence.

These will help us to identify the clauses easily.

i) It is a Compound sentence because ‘else’ is a coordinating conjunction. Two independent clauses in the sentence are :
- Walk quickly
- else you will not overtake them.

ii) It is a complex sentence because ‘therefore’ is a subordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are:
- Independent clause - she does not blush
- Dependent clause - therefore, she is not guilty.

iii) It is a Simple sentence. The entire sentence is an independent clause.

iv) It is a complex sentence because ‘because’ is a subordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are
- Independent clause- They came
- Dependent clause - because they were invited.

v) It is a complex sentence because ‘when’ is a subordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are :
- Independent clause- A guest is not welcome
- Dependent clause - when he stays too long.

vi) It is a complex sentence because ‘who’ is a subordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are :
- Independent clause-They never think.
- Dependent clause - who always talk

vii) Simple sentence - Entire sentence is an independent clause.

viii) It is a Compound sentence because ‘nor’ is a coordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are:
- Independent clause -She was neither wise
- Dependent clause - nor pretty
ix) It is a Compound sentence because ‘but’ is a coordinating conjunction. Clauses in the sentence are:
- Independent clause -The teacher called him twice
- Dependent clause -but he gave no answer
x) Simple sentence - Entire sentence is an independent clause.

Note:
- To identify an infinitive marker, we need to look for a pattern that is, To + base verb. For example, I went out to buy fruits.
- To identify a preposition, we need to look for a pattern that is, To + gerund. For example,He is dedicated to helping the needy.
- Gerund- It is a form of the verb which acts as a noun and ends in -ing. For example, the word dancing is an example of a gerund.