Question

Combine the following to form a simple sentence:
He cannot see things at a distance. His eyesight is poor.

• A. He cannot see things at a distance due to his poor eyesight.
• B. He cannot see things at a distance because his eye sight is poor.
• C. His eye sight is poor and he cannot see things at a distance.
• D. His eye sight is poor and hence he cannot see things at a distance.

Answer 1

The correct option is A He cannot see things at a distance due to his poor eyesight.

A simple sentence has only one subject and predicate. It has a finite verb with a completed thought. A compound sentence has at least two parts (also referred to as a clause). Each part has its own subject and predicate and makes good sense by itself. Hence each clause is independent of the other and called the main clause or independent clause. The main clauses are connected using a co-ordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

A complex sentence has at least one main clause (which is an independent clause) and one or more dependent clauses, connected using a subordinate conjunction. The dependent clause cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It depends upon the main clause.

Option A: This sentence has only one clause i.e., "He cannot see things at a distance". It has only a single subject-"He" and predicate-"cannot see things at a distance". The words, "due to his poor eyesight" is a phrase and not a clause. Hence, this is a simple sentence and this option is correct.

Option B: The word, "because" is a subordinating conjunction which connects dependent and independent clauses. The clause, "He cannot see things at a distance" is an independent clause. The clause, "because his eyesight is poor", cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is a dependent clause. Hence, this is a complex sentence and this option is incorrect.

Option C: The two clauses viz (i) "His eyesight is poor" and (ii) "he cannot see things at a distance", can stand independently and make good sense. They are independent clausesconnected using the co-ordinating conjunction-"and". Hence, this is a compound sentence and this answer is incorrect.

Option D: The word, "hence" is a conjunctive adverb which connects dependent and independent clauses. The clause, "His eyesight is poor" is an independent clause. The clause, "and hence he cannot see things at a distance" cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is a dependent clause. Hence, this is a complex sentence and this option is incorrect.