Change the following simple sentence into complex sentence. He succeeded unexpectedly.

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

A complex sentence must contain one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
The option "He succeeded although his success was not expected" contains the independent clause "He succeeded.".
It also contains the dependent clause "although his success was not expected," which is introduced by the subordinating conjunction "although.".
This structure correctly converts the adverb "unexpectedly" into a clause, fulfilling the requirements of a complex sentence while maintaining the original meaning.

Option B: This is a compound sentence, not a complex one. It joins two independent clauses ('His success was unexpected' and 'he succeeded') with the coordinating conjunction 'and'.
Option C: While this is a complex sentence, it fundamentally changes the meaning of the original sentence. It states the success was 'expected,' which is the opposite of 'unexpectedly'.
Option D: This is still a simple sentence. The phrase 'Owing to expectations' is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb, not a dependent clause with its own subject and verb.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Transformation of a simple sentence into a complex sentence as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Clear and precise communication is essential in nursing for accurate documentation, patient handoffs, and interprofessional collaboration.
Understanding sentence structure helps in writing unambiguous medical records and reports, which prevents misinterpretations that could lead to medical errors.
What if? - If a nurse wrote 'Patient ambulated and fell' (compound), it states two events. If they wrote 'Patient fell while ambulating' (complex), it clarifies the fall happened during the ambulation, providing more precise context for an incident report and subsequent care planning.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the structure of the original sentence. 'He succeeded unexpectedly' is a simple sentence with one independent clause.
Next, understand the goal: to create a complex sentence. This requires one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Examine each option to determine its grammatical structure.
Look for an option that contains a subordinating conjunction (e.g., although, because, since, while, which) that introduces a dependent clause.
Eliminate options that are compound sentences (joining two independent clauses with 'and', 'but', etc.) or are still simple sentences (using phrases instead of clauses).
Finally, verify that the chosen complex sentence accurately preserves the meaning of the original sentence.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

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