{"id":5498,"date":"2021-10-06T06:00:06","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=5498"},"modified":"2021-10-05T14:42:18","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T19:42:18","slug":"compound-sentences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/clauses-sentences\/compound-sentences\/","title":{"rendered":"Compound Sentences: What Is a Compound Sentence?"},"content":{"rendered":"

English has four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex<\/strong>.\u00a0In this review, we\u2019ll discuss what a compound sentence is.<\/p>\n

A compound sentence is one that includes at least two independent clauses that are connected by a conjunction and a comma or by a semicolon.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ricky went to the park on his bike<\/u>, and Bobby went on his skateboard<\/u>.<\/p>\n

I would like a black pen<\/u>, but Vanessa would like a blue one<\/u>.<\/p>\n

They haven\u2019t said who the new superintendent will be<\/u>; they will announce it tomorrow<\/u>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Each main (independent) clause in the examples is underlined. In the first two sentences, the independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but<\/em>). In the third example, the two main clauses are connected by a semicolon.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at a couple more examples to reinforce what a compound sentence is:<\/p>\n

Aileen works for a pharmacy<\/u>, and Chinaka works at a research facility<\/u>.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016<\/u>; it was their first since 1908<\/u>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In this first example, two main clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction and<\/em>. In the second example, two main clauses are connected by a semicolon.<\/p>\n

Compound Sentence: Discern From Compound Predicate<\/h2>\n

In understanding what a compound sentence is, it\u2019s important that we not confuse a compound sentence with a compound predicate.<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve discussed, a compound sentence has two separate main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. A compound predicate, on the other hand, involves two or more actions (verbs) performed by the same sentence subject within the same clause.<\/p>\n

Compound Sentence<\/strong>
\nShane drove a Chevy Impala in 1976<\/u>, and he washed it every week<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Compound Predicate<\/strong>
\nShane drove<\/u> a Chevy Impala and washed<\/u> it every week in 1976.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the first sentence, we describe two actions as two separate main clauses. In the second sentence, we have one subject (Shane<\/em>) performing two actions (drove <\/em>and washed<\/em>) within a single main clause; this is an example of a compound predicate.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s consider one more comparison for good measure:<\/p>\n

Compound Sentence<\/strong>
\nWanda studies forensic science<\/u>, but she wants to be a veterinarian<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Compound Predicate<\/strong>
\nWanda studies<\/u> forensic science but wants<\/u> to be a veterinarian.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the first example, two main clauses joined by a conjunction express two separate thoughts as a compound sentence. In the second example, the same sentence subject (Wanda<\/em>) performs both actions (studies <\/em>and wants<\/em>) in the same main clause.<\/p>\n

Compound Sentence: Avoid Loose Constructions<\/h2>\n

As writers of American English, we want to communicate with precision and eloquence. Expressing ourselves with succinct constructions helps to achieve this.<\/p>\n

For good technique, we should avoid writing compound sentences that become aimless and loose. A common cause is stringing together multiple clauses rather than dividing them for clarity, pacing, and focus.<\/p>\n

Example<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Judith visited her aunt, and they had tea, but they also played backgammon, and then Judith kissed her good-bye.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This sentence is a wandering report of what transpired between Judith and her aunt. We could improve it in a few different ways:<\/p>\n

Judith visited her aunt for tea. They played backgammon, and then Judith kissed her good-bye.<\/em><\/p>\n

Judith visited her aunt to have tea and play backgammon. Afterward, Judith kissed her good-bye.<\/em><\/p>\n

Judith visited her aunt. They had tea and played backgammon, and then Judith kissed her good-bye.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Related Topics<\/h3>\n

Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part One<\/a>
\nCompound Predicates<\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Now that we\u2019ve reviewed what a compound sentence is, identify which of the following sentences are compound and which are not.<\/p>\n

1. I will add up the total, and then I will tell you how much you owe.<\/p>\n

2. Francesca lit the torch and walked with it through the shadowy house.<\/p>\n

3. After Jermaine attended the job fair, he decided to pursue a career in environmental safety.<\/p>\n

4. You will bake the cake, and I will frost it.<\/p>\n

5. The rain fell hard for days, but the basement did not flood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. I will add up the total<\/u>, and then I will tell you how much you owe<\/u>. compound <\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Francesca lit<\/u> the torch and walked<\/u> with it through the shadowy house. not compound<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. After Jermaine attended the job fair, he decided to pursue a career in environmental safety<\/u>. not compound<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. You will bake the cake<\/span>, and I will frost it<\/u>. compound<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. The rain fell hard for days<\/u>, but the basement did not flood<\/u>. compound<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

English has four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.\u00a0In this review, we\u2019ll discuss what a compound sentence is. A compound sentence is one that includes at least two independent clauses that are connected by a conjunction and a comma or by a semicolon. Examples Ricky went to the park on his bike, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clauses-sentences"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5498"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5510,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5498\/revisions\/5510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}