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.