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               Simple,complex compound....structures..........

 We need a finite verb to complete the meaning of a sentence. Ab infinitive cannot give us the exact meaning of the sentence. The simplest form of an infinitive is to read, to come, to go, to write etc. The verb takes 'to' before it and we cannot change the tense of the verb when we use 'to' before it. Basically all the verbs are infinitives. When we use the verb in a sentence and in different tenses we discard the 'to'.

1. We have learnt that every clause must have a finite verb. So we can easily count and identify the number of clauses used in a sentence by counting the number of finite verbs. If there are five verbs in a sentence there must be five clauses in that sentence. Isn't it easy to count the number of clauses?
2. If a sentence has only one finite verb , it must be a SIMPLE SENTENCE. The size or length of the sentence does not matter.
3. If a sentence has two or more than two clauses and if there is only one principal clause in that particular sentence it is definitely a complex sentence. Examples;
a) Debnath Moitra believes                            that there is a God         who controls our life.
**********************                           ***************         ******************
 (Principal clause)                                                            ( Subordinate clause )               ( Subordinate clause )
b) We eat                                                      that we may live.
c) Do you know                                           where Ramkrishna Pal lives?
d) Pinki told Sonai                                       that it was very important for her to stand on her own feet.

4. If a sentence has two or more than two principal clauses and they are connected by conjunctions, it is called a compound sentence. Some grammarians have made it more complicated by sub-dividing the compound sentences again into i) double ii) multiple iii) complex compound sentences. Please don't pay any attention to it. Just remember that compound sentence must have at least two principal or co-ordinate clauses. It may contain sub-ordinate clauses besides the principal clauses. Examples:

a) Rana is fond of fish                               but         Sonai prefers chicken.
b ) Debnath is an MA in English               and        Ramkrishna is a BSc( Hons) in Chemistry.

You can easily distinguish between a complex sentence and a compound sentence from the above examples. I need not elaborate on that.  HAPPY LEARNING.