WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-10 MCQs on Changing Compound Sentences into Simple Sentences
10 MCQs on Changing Compound Sentences into Simple Sentences
1. Compound sentence: "She worked very hard and she finally achieved her long-cherished dream." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) She worked very hard but she finally achieved her long-cherished dream.
- B) Although she worked very hard, she finally achieved her long-cherished dream.
- C) By working very hard, she finally achieved her long-cherished dream.
- D) She worked very hard so she finally achieved her long-cherished dream.
Answer: C) By working very hard, she finally achieved her long-cherished dream. (The coordinating conjunction "and" joining two independent clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the gerund phrase "by working very hard" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "achieved" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
2. Compound sentence: "He was very ill, yet he insisted on attending the important board meeting." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) He was very ill so he insisted on attending the important board meeting.
- B) Despite his serious illness, he insisted on attending the important board meeting.
- C) He was very ill and he insisted on attending the important board meeting.
- D) Being very ill, and he insisted on attending the important board meeting.
Answer: B) Despite his serious illness, he insisted on attending the important board meeting. (The coordinating conjunction "yet" joining two contrasting clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the prepositional phrase "despite his serious illness" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "insisted" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
3. Compound sentence: "The sun set and the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) The sun set but the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees.
- B) The sun set so the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees.
- C) At sunset, the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees.
- D) The sun set when the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees.
Answer: C) At sunset, the birds returned to their nests in the tall trees. (The coordinating conjunction "and" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause "the sun set" is reduced to the noun phrase "at sunset" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "returned" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
4. Compound sentence: "She must apologise sincerely, or she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) She must apologise sincerely and she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever.
- B) Without a sincere apology, she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever.
- C) She must apologise sincerely but she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever.
- D) Unless she apologises, she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever.
Answer: B) Without a sincere apology, she will lose the trust of her colleagues forever. (The coordinating conjunction "or" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the prepositional phrase "without a sincere apology" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "will lose" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
5. Compound sentence: "He trained rigorously for months and he finally won the gold medal at the championship." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) He trained rigorously for months but he finally won the gold medal at the championship.
- B) He trained rigorously for months so he finally won the gold medal at the championship.
- C) After training rigorously for months, he finally won the gold medal at the championship.
- D) Although he trained rigorously for months, he finally won the gold medal at the championship.
Answer: C) After training rigorously for months, he finally won the gold medal at the championship. (The coordinating conjunction "and" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the prepositional phrase "after training rigorously for months" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "won" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
6. Compound sentence: "She is highly qualified, yet she could not find a suitable job for several months." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) She is highly qualified so she could not find a suitable job for several months.
- B) She is highly qualified and she could not find a suitable job for several months.
- C) Being highly qualified, and she could not find a suitable job for several months.
- D) Despite being highly qualified, she could not find a suitable job for several months.
Answer: D) Despite being highly qualified, she could not find a suitable job for several months. (The coordinating conjunction "yet" joining two contrasting clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the prepositional phrase "despite being highly qualified" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "could not find" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
7. Compound sentence: "The manager called the meeting and all the employees gathered in the conference room." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) The manager called the meeting so all the employees gathered in the conference room.
- B) The manager called the meeting but all the employees gathered in the conference room.
- C) On the manager's call, all the employees gathered in the conference room.
- D) When the manager called the meeting, all the employees gathered in the conference room.
Answer: C) On the manager's call, all the employees gathered in the conference room. (The coordinating conjunction "and" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the noun phrase "on the manager's call" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "gathered" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
8. Compound sentence: "He did not prepare well, so he could not answer most of the questions in the examination." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) He did not prepare well and he could not answer most of the questions in the examination.
- B) He did not prepare well but he could not answer most of the questions in the examination.
- C) Due to poor preparation, he could not answer most of the questions in the examination.
- D) Not preparing well, and he could not answer most of the questions in the examination.
Answer: C) Due to poor preparation, he could not answer most of the questions in the examination. (The coordinating conjunction "so" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the prepositional phrase "due to poor preparation" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "could not answer" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
9. Compound sentence: "She saved her money diligently for years and she was able to buy her own house." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) She saved her money diligently for years so she was able to buy her own house.
- B) By saving her money diligently for years, she was able to buy her own house.
- C) She saved her money diligently for years but she was able to buy her own house.
- D) Having saved her money, and she was able to buy her own house.
Answer: B) By saving her money diligently for years, she was able to buy her own house. (The coordinating conjunction "and" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the gerund phrase "by saving her money diligently for years" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "was able" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
10. Compound sentence: "He spoke confidently and clearly, so he impressed the entire panel of interviewers." Which of the following is the correct simple sentence?
- A) He spoke confidently and clearly but he impressed the entire panel of interviewers.
- B) He spoke confidently and clearly when he impressed the entire panel of interviewers.
- C) He spoke confidently and clearly although he impressed the entire panel of interviewers.
- D) By speaking confidently and clearly, he impressed the entire panel of interviewers.
Answer: D) By speaking confidently and clearly, he impressed the entire panel of interviewers. (The coordinating conjunction "so" joining the two clauses is removed — the first clause is reduced to the gerund phrase "by speaking confidently and clearly" — the sentence now has only one finite verb "impressed" making it a grammatically correct simple sentence.)
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