EF2/3 Sentence Combining C-47, 48

SIMPLE
COMPOUND
COMPLEX

1. The boy kicked the door. The boy was angry.
The angry boy kicked the door.

The boy was angry.

The small angry boy kicked the door. SIMPLE

The small boy was angry, so he kicked the door. COMPOUND

The small boy kicked the door because he was angry. COMPLEX- ADVERB CLAUSE



COMBINING THE INFORMATION

2. Gloria bought a house. The house was old. The house was run-down. It was huge.

Gloria bought an huge old run-down house. SIMPLE
Gloria bought a huge house, but it was old and run-down. COMPOUND
Gloria bought a huge house which was old and run-down. COMPLEX- ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Gloria bought an old and run-down house because it was huge. COMPLEX- ADVERB CLAUSE

3. The sharks swam beside the diver. They were hungry.
The hungry sharks swam beside the diver. The diver was nervous.
The hungry sharks swam beside the nervous diver. SIMPLE
The hungry sharks swam beside the diver, so she was nervous. COMPOUND 
The diver was nervous because the hungry sharks swam beside him. COMPLEX- ADVERB CLAUSE

ADVERB CLAUSE- because, if, when, while, since, after, before

6. The young Canadian singer gave an exciting performance. SIMPLE
The young singer was Canadian, and she gave an exciting performance. COMPOUND
The young Canadian singer gave a performance that was exciting. COMPLEX- ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The young Canadian singer was exciting because he gave a performance.

exciting/ excited (adj)

exciting- thing
excited- emotion

boring/ bored
interesting/ interested "The book was interesting." "I was interested in the book."


1. She read a funny story in the newspaper.
She read a funny story that was in the newspaper.
The story that she read in the newspaper was funny.

2. John drives an old green Ford.

3.I forgot to send my older brother a card on his birthday.
I forgot to send my older brother a birthday card.

4.The kind man gave his tired mother a quick hug.

5. Jim walked slowly to the corner grocery store.
Jim walked slowly to the grocery store (which was) on the corner.

6. Look for the white towel which is in the cupboard by the door.

cup board- kitchen cabinets

7. On Friday, Kate married a friendly salesman who sells cars.

On Friday, Kate married a friendly car salesman.

salesman = associate

8. I liked the sad movie which was about the war in Vietnam.
I liked the sad movie about the Vietnam War. SIMPLE- NOT EASY
I liked the movie about the Vietnam War, but it was sad
The movie about the Vietnam War was sad, but I still liked it.

SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX- writing and speaking

HARDER- MORE DIFFICULT
9. The patient teacher taught an interesting lesson on writing business letters in Room 2134. The patient teacher in Room 2134 taught an interesting lesson, and the lesson was on writing business letters.
10. Robin entered the cold and dark apartment, locked the door, and hung up his heavy coat.
After Robin entered the cold and dark apartment, he locked the door; then he hung up his heavy coat. EF5/6After entering the cold, dark apartment, Robin locked the door before hanging up his heavy coat. Eng11/12