Turning Simple Sentences into Compound Sentences Using FANBOYS

What Do You Notice. She didn’t want to play with Jill What Do You Notice? She didn’t want to play with Jill. She didn’t want to play with Jim.

She didn’t want to play with Jill, and she didn’t want to play with Jim.

Simple Sentences She didn’t want to play with Jill. She didn’t want to play with Jim.

Compound Sentence She didn’t want to play with Jill, and she didn’t want to play with Jim.

To make two simple sentences into a compound sentence, use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Remember: the sentences must be related.

for and nor but or yet so . , Sentence sentence

FANBOYS for and nor but or yet so

FOR The Problem Finder Connects a solution with a problem (because)

Let’s go to the swimming pool, for it’s hot inside the house.

AND The Matchmaker Connects two ideas that go together

I want to go to the circus, and I want to ride a pony.

NOR Mr. Negative Negative form of or (also means not)

I have never visited Asia, nor have I ever visited Africa.

BUT King Conflict Connects two ideas that go against each other

I need to go to the store, but I’m feeling too sick to drive.

OR The Decision Maker Connects two choices

You can make a big poster, or you can make a small clay statue.

YET But’s Evil Twin Brother Connects two ideas that go against each other

I don’t want to practice playing the violin, yet I don’t want to disobey my mother.

SO The Problem-Solver Connects a problem with a result

I didn’t do my homework, so my parents punished me.

Combining with a semi-colon When you have two complete sentences, you can combine them with a semicolon. There is no need for a comma or a conjunction. Let’s go to the mall! I need new shoes. You can combine these two sentences using a semi-colon. Let’s go to the mall; I need new shoes.

Let’s Practice!

Gail plays soccer. Brian plays tennis.

Gail plays soccer, and Brian plays tennis.

June is a warm month. December is cold.

June is a warm month, but December is cold.

The yard is full of leaves. After school, we will rake them into piles.

The yard is full of leaves, so after school, we will rake them into piles.

She doesn’t drink milk. She doesn’t eat butter.

She doesn’t drink milk, nor does she eat butter.

Tom studied a lot. He did not pass the test.

Tom studied a lot, yet he did not pass the test.

My mom takes me to the mall for clothes My mom takes me to the mall for clothes. My dad buys school supplies for me.

My mom takes me to the mall for clothes, and my dad buys school supplies for me.

First Squirrel saw Mouse. He saw Cat and ran away.

First Squirrel saw Mouse, but then he saw Cat and ran away.

I went to the mall with my dad. He bought me a pair of shoes I went to the mall with my dad. He bought me a pair of shoes. He bought me a coloring book. He bought me a game. Then we had lunch in the food court. I had a great day!

He bought me a pair of shoes, a coloring book, and a game He bought me a pair of shoes, a coloring book, and a game. Compound sentence?

Compound Sentence Test Are there two complete sentences, with subjects and verbs on each side of the FANBOYS? Are a comma and one of the FANBOYS joining the two complete sentences? Yes? Then it’s a compound sentence! No? Then it’s not a compound sentence!