Compound Sentences

What is a Compound Sentence?

Greetings, young grammarians! Today, we embark on an exciting journey into the realm of compound sentences. First things first – what exactly is a compound sentence? Think of it as a dynamic duo of independent clauses teaming up to make your writing more captivating. Let's explore the basics.

Defining the Basics:

• Independent Clause: A complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. It includes a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject is doing).
• Compound Sentence: This type of sentence features two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

How to Identify a Compound Sentence:

Time to put on our detective hats and discover how to spot these compound sentences in the wild!

1. Look for FANBOYS:

   • FANBOYS stands for coordinating conjunctions – "For," "And," "Nor," "But," "Or," "Yet," and "So." If you spot one of these pals connecting two independent clauses, you've stumbled upon a compound sentence.

     Example: I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.

2. Check for Semicolons:

   • Sometimes, a semicolon acts as the superhero linking two closely related independent clauses without the need for a conjunction.

     Example: The cat slept through the storm; the dog barked loudly.

Examples of Compound Sentences:

Now, let's dive into some examples to witness compound sentences in action.

1. Using "And":
   • I enjoy reading mystery novels, and my brother prefers science fiction.
2. Using "But":
   • She wanted to stay up late, but her parents insisted on an early bedtime.
3. Using "Yet":
   • I enjoy reading novels, yet my brother prefers comic books.
4. Using "Or":
   • You can choose pizza for dinner, or we can make tacos together.
5. Using Semicolons:
   • The sun was setting; the sky was painted in hues of pink and orange.