Question

Combine the following to form a simple sentence:
The meeting was attended by all the team members. The team leader did not attend.

• A. Though the meeting was attending by all the team members, the team leader did not attend.
• B. The meeting was attended by all the team members except the team leader.
• C. The meeting was attended by all the team members, however, the team leader did not attend.
  
• D. The given sentences cannot be combined to form a simple sentence.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The meeting was attended by all the team members except the team leader.

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 on the main clause.

Option A: The word, "though" is a subordinating conjunction which connects dependent and independent clauses. The clause, "the team leader did not attend" is an independent clause. The clause, "Though the meeting was attended by all the team members" 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 B: This sentence has only one clause i.e., "The meeting was attended by all the team members". It has only a single subject-"The meeting" and predicate-"was attended by all the team members". The words, "except the team leader" is a phrase and not a clause. Hence, this is a simple sentence and this option is correct.

Option C: The word, "however" is a conjunctive adverb which connects two independent clauses. The use of "however" after a comma to connect two independent clauses in a single sentence is grammatically incorrect. The correct way of using "however" is: "The meeting was attended by all the team members. However, the team leader did not attend". Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option D is incorrect as option B is the correct answer.