A compound sentence can be converted into a simple sentence by reducing one or more main clauses into a word or phrase.
Study the following examples.
Compound: He must run fast or he will not catch the train.
Simple: He must run fast to catch the train.
Compound: The sun rose and the sky cleared.
Simple: The sun having risen the sky cleared.
Compound: He repeatedly failed but he did not give up.
Simple: In spite of his repeated failures, he did not give up.
Compound: They not only looted the shop, but also set it on fire.
Simple: Besides looting the shop, they set it on fire.
Compound: He was lazy; therefore he failed.
Simple: Being lazy he failed.
Compound: They did not have sufficient funds. They had to abandon the project.
Simple: Owing to the lack of funds, they had to abandon the project.
Compound: The sky was clear. We resumed our journey.
Simple: The sky being clear we resumed our journey.
Compound: The child found her mother absent. She began to cry.
Simple: Finding her mother absent, the child began to cry.
Compound: He not only recommended me to several employers, but lent me some money also.
Simple: Besides recommending me to several employers, he also lent me some money.
