Compound Sentences in English Grammar

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses (i.e., clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences) joined together using a conjunction.

Key Characteristics:

• Contains two or more independent clauses
• Joined using a conjunction (e.g. and, but, or, so, yet)
• Each independent clause has a subject and a verb
• Can be separated into two or more separate sentences

Examples:

• I went to the store, and I bought some milk.
• She studied for the exam, but she still didn't feel prepared.
• He wanted to go to the beach, so he packed a picnic lunch.

Types of Conjunctions Used:

• Coordinating conjunctions:
  • And (e.g. I like coffee, and I like tea.)
  • But (e.g. I wanted to go, but I was tired.)
  • Or (e.g. Do you want to go to the movies, or do you want to stay home?)
  • So (e.g. I was hungry, so I went to get a snack.)
  • Yet (e.g. I was tired, yet I stayed up to finish the project.)
• Correlative conjunctions:
  • Both...and (e.g. I both love and hate that movie.)
  • Either...or (e.g. Do you want to go either to the beach or to the park?)
  • Not only...but also (e.g. I not only like reading, but I also enjoy writing.)

Punctuation:

• Use a comma before the conjunction that joins the two independent clauses.

Compound Sentences

• A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined using a conjunction.
• Key characteristics of compound sentences include:
  • Containing two or more independent clauses
  • Joined using a conjunction (e.g. and, but, or, so, yet)
  • Each independent clause having a subject and a verb
  • Can be separated into two or more separate sentences

Examples of Compound Sentences

• I went to the store, and I bought some milk.
• She studied for the exam, but she still didn't feel prepared.
• He wanted to go to the beach, so he packed a picnic lunch.

Types of Conjunctions Used in Compound Sentences

Coordinating Conjunctions

• And (e.g. I like coffee, and I like tea.)
• But (e.g. I wanted to go, but I was tired.)
• Or (e.g. Do you want to go to the movies, or do you want to stay home?)
• So (e.g. I was hungry, so I went to get a snack.)
• Yet (e.g. I was tired, yet I stayed up to finish the project.)

Correlative Conjunctions

• Both...and (e.g. I both love and hate that movie.)
• Either...or (e.g. Do you want to go either to the beach or to the park?)
• Not only...but also (e.g. I not only like reading, but I also enjoy writing.)

Punctuation in Compound Sentences

• Use a comma before the conjunction that joins the two independent clauses.

Learn about compound sentences, their characteristics, and how to create them. Identify and construct sentences with two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.