Question

Combine the two simple sentences below to form a simple sentence:
There was a hurricane. The construction of the temple was stopped.

• A. Owing to the hurricane, the construction of the temple was stopped.
• B. As there was a hurricane, the construction of the temple was stopped.
• C. There was a hurricane and the construction of the temple was stopped.
• D. The construction of the temple was stopped when there was a hurricane.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Owing to the hurricane, the construction of the temple was stopped.

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: This sentence has only one clause i.e. "The construction of the temple was stopped". It has a single subject-"The construction of the temple", and predicate-"was stopped". The words, "Owing to the hurricane" is a phrase and not a clause. Hence, this is a simple sentence and this option is correct.

Option B: The word, "as" is a subordinating conjunction which connects dependent and independent clauses. The clause, "The construction of the temple was stopped" is an independent clause. The clause, "As there was a hurricane" 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) "The construction of the temple was stopped" and (ii) "There was a hurricane", 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: "When" is a subordinating conjunction which connects dependent and independent clauses. The clause, "The construction of the temple was stopped" is an independent clause. The clause, "When there was a hurricane" cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is a dependent clause. Hence, this is a complex sentence and this option is incorrect.