Rule 01 (English)

 Complex Sentence to Simple Sentence

 

When a Complex Sentence begins with Since / As / When in the Subordinate Clause, and the Subject of both the Subordinate and Principal Clauses is the same, the Complex Sentence can be changed into a Simple Sentence.

Rules:

(a) If the Subordinate Clause contains Since / As / When, the verb of that clause must be changed.
(b) If the verb is an ordinary one → use verb + ing.
If the verb is am / is / are / was / were → use being.
If the verb is have / has / had → use having.
(c) After the change, the Subordinate Clause may be placed either at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.
(d) If the Subordinate Clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, a comma (,) should be used.
(e) If the Subject of the Principal Clause is a pronoun and the Subject of the Subordinate Clause is a noun, replace the pronoun with the noun.
(f) The original meaning of the sentence must remain unchanged.

Examples:

Complex Sentence	Simple Sentence
Since Hasan worked hard, he made a good result.	Working hard, Hasan made a good result.
Since the old mariner killed the albatross, he brought bad luck to the crew.	Killing the albatross, the old mariner brought bad luck to the crew.
Since the boys made a noise, they were punished.	Making a noise, the boys were punished.
Since the passenger broke the law, he was fined.	Breaking the law, the passenger was fined.
When the thief saw the police, he ran away.	Seeing the police, the thief ran away.
When the baby saw her mother, she came running.	Seeing her mother, the baby came running.
Since I had forgotten him, I went out.	Having forgotten him, I went out. / Forgetting him, I went out.
Since the boy is mere a child, he cannot do difficult job.	Being mere a child, the boy cannot do difficult job.
The girl entered the house when she saw the stranger.	The girl entered the house seeing the stranger.
Since Sathi was ill, she could not attend the class.	Being ill, Sathi could not attend the class.
Since he did not study regularly, he failed.	Not studying regularly, he failed.
Since Fahim was intelligent, he made a good result.	Being intelligent, Fahim made a good result.
Since he is rich, he cannot understand the suffering of the poor.	Being rich, he cannot understand the suffering of the poor.

 

Example 1

Complex: Since Hasan worked hard, he made a good result.
Steps: (a) subordinate = Since Hasan worked hard → verb worked is ordinary → (b) working; (d) clause at beginning → comma; (e) subject same (Hasan = he).
Simple: Working hard, Hasan made a good result.

Example 2

Complex: Since the old mariner killed the albatross, he brought bad luck to the crew.
Steps: killed → ordinary → killing; clause first → comma; subject same (old mariner = he).
Simple: Killing the albatross, the old mariner brought bad luck to the crew.

Example 3

Complex: When the thief saw the police, he ran away.
Steps: saw → ordinary → seeing; clause first → comma; same subject.
Simple: Seeing the police, the thief ran away.

Example 4

Complex: The girl entered the house when she saw the stranger.
Steps: subordinate at end (when she saw the stranger) → seeing the stranger; placed after principal (no comma); same subject (girl = she).
Simple: The girl entered the house seeing the stranger.

Example 5

Complex: Since I had forgotten him, I went out.
Steps: had forgotten → perfect → (b) use having forgotten; clause first → comma; subject same (I).
Simple: Having forgotten him, I went out.

Example 6

Complex: Since the boy is only a child, he cannot do the difficult job.
Steps: is (be-verb) → (b) use being only a child; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Being only a child, the boy cannot do the difficult job.

Example 7

Complex: When the students finished the exam, they left the hall.
Steps: finished → finishing; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Finishing the exam, the students left the hall.

Example 8

Complex: Since he did not study regularly, he failed.
Steps: negative (did not study) → (b) use not + verb-ing → not studying regularly; clause first → comma.
Simple: Not studying regularly, he failed.

Example 9

Complex: As Sathi was ill, she could not attend the class.
Steps: was → be → being ill; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Being ill, Sathi could not attend the class.

Example 10

Complex: Since the passenger broke the law, he was fined.
Steps: broke → breaking; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Breaking the law, the passenger was fined.

Example 11

Complex: When the baby saw her mother, she ran to her.
Steps: saw → seeing; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Seeing her mother, the baby ran to her.

Example 12

Complex: Since the rain had stopped, we went out.
Steps: had stopped → perfect → having stopped; clause first → comma; subject same (rain → it).
Simple: Having stopped, the rain allowed us to go out.
(Note: small natural rephrasing to keep sense — rule (f)).

Example 13

Complex: When the bell rang, the students entered the class.
Steps: rang → ringing (ordinary) → participial form ringing; clause first → comma.
Simple: Ringing, the bell signalled and the students entered the class.
(You may also write: “When the bell rang” → “On the bell ringing, the students entered.”)

Example 14

Complex: Since he has finished his task, he is playing now.
Steps: has finished → perfect → having finished; clause first → comma.
Simple: Having finished his task, he is playing now.

Example 15 — subordinate at end (no comma)

Complex: She smiled when she received the letter.
Steps: subordinate at end when she received the letter → receiving the letter; placed after → no comma; subject same.
Simple: She smiled receiving the letter.

Example 16 — pronoun → noun replacement (rule e)

Complex: Since the teacher was late, he apologised.
Steps: was → being; subject same (teacher = he). Rule (e) says: if subordinate subject is a noun and principal subject is a pronoun, use the noun in the simple sentence for clarity. So use the teacher instead of he.
Simple: Being late, the teacher apologised.

Example 17

Complex: When Ali opened the door, he saw a cat.
Steps: opened → opening; clause first → comma; subject same.
Simple: Opening the door, Ali saw a cat.

Example 18 — cause/result emphasis with perfect

Complex: Since they had won the match, they celebrated all night.
Steps: had won → having won; clause first → comma.
Simple: Having won the match, they celebrated all night.

Example 19 — negative perfect

Complex: Since she had not finished the report, she stayed late.
Steps: had not finished → perfect negative → not having finished (or having not finished); clause first → comma.
Simple: Not having finished the report, she stayed late.

Example 20 — subordinate at end + being

Complex: He could not come since he was busy.
Steps: subordinate at end since he was busy → being busy; placed after principal → no comma.
Simple: He could not come being busy.
(Or more natural: “Being busy, he could not come.” — moved to start with comma.)