Creating and Identifying Compound Sentences Creating and Identifying

Part One: Linking independent clauses using coordinating conjunctions.

Review: What is a clause? A clause is a group of words that always contains two things—subject and verb. It may be independent or dependent. In other words, a clause may be a complete sentence, or it may depend upon more words to make it a complete sentence.

Review: What is a clause? Let’s use the idea of a train to represent the two types of clauses. Independent Dependent

Review: What is a clause? Think of an independent clause as a train engine. It has the power to move alone. The image is of a train engine. The engine may run independently. Therefore, it represents an independent clause.

Review: What is a clause? Likewise, think of a dependent clause as a box car or caboose that may be pulled by the train’s engine, but has no power on its own. The image is of a box car that may be pulled by the train’s engine, but it is unable to move independently.

Review: What is a clause? In conclusion, the clause come in two types independent and dependent. In order to recognize an independent clause, you must be able to answer yes to the following question:

Review: What is a clause? Does it have a subject AND a verb?

Review: What is a clause? Although this is the most important question, an independent clause also sounds right. Therefore, it is useful to listen to the sentence; say it aloud if possible and decide if it sounds like a complete sentence.

Creating Compound Sentences Now that we understand what a clause is, we must learn how to connect them to create compound sentences. There is only one type of connector for compound sentences: The Coordinating Conjunction.

Creating Compound Sentences There are only eight coordinating conjunctions. They are easily remembered by the acronym F- A-N-B-O-Y-S-; or fanboys;

Creating Compound Sentences Here is a list of the coordinating conjunctions: for and nor but or yet so ; The coordinating conjunctions are as follows: for and nor but or yet so semicolon

Creating Compound Sentences Be careful not to forget the last one—the semicolon! Remember there are eight coordinating conjunctions.

Creating Compound Sentences Think of a coordinating conjunction as a way to connect two independent clauses. Remember, an independent clause is a complete sentence, a clause that can stand alone.

Creating Compound Sentences Therefore, returning to our train metaphor, a coordinating conjunction is the link between two train engines. It may sound strange to link engines, but the clauses, like the engines represent equal ideas. One does not depend on the other

Creating Compound Sentences In fact, it is possible to link more than two train engines together using more than one coordinating conjunction. As long as the sentence remains logical, coordinate away.

Creating Compound Sentences Here is an example of three independent clauses that have been linked using two coordinating conjunctions: It is difficult to take classes during the summer, but Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring, so she is taking classes instead of a vacation this summer.

Creating Compound Sentences Let’s test the clauses to see if they are independent by locating the coordinating conjunctions and looking to the left and the right of each.

Creating Compound Sentences It is difficult to take classes during the summer. Subject? yes Verb? yes Does it pass the sound test? That is, does it sound right? Yes

Creating Compound Sentences Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring. Subject? yes Verb? yes Does it pass the sound test? Yes

Creating Compound Sentences She is taking classes instead of a vacation this summer. Subject? yes Verb? yes Does it pass the sound test? Yes

Creating Compound Sentences Each of the three sentences in the example are simple sentences. In other words, each of the sentences is also an independent clause. Therefore, an independent clause is a simple sentence.

Creating Compound Sentences However, once we linked the simple sentences using coordination conjunctions, we changed the sentence type. Let’s look at our example again:   It is difficult to take classes during the summer, but Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring, so she is taking classes instead of a vacation this summer.

Creating Compound Sentences Because our example sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses or simple sentences linked by coordinating conjunctions, it now becomes a compound sentence.

Part Two: Identifying Compound Sentences

Identifying Compound Sentences Now that we understand how to link independent clauses, or simple sentences, using coordinating conjunctions, we know how to create, and therefore, also how to identify compound sentences: We simply work backwards.

Identifying Compound Sentences Once again, let’s look at our example: It is difficult to take classes during the summer, but Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring, so she is taking classes instead of a vacation this summer.

Identifying Compound Sentences As we learned in part one, each of the clauses passes the subject-plus-verb test. Let’s use another example: John loves to surf, so he went to the South of France during his summer vacation and Australia during the winter break.

Identifying Compound Sentences 1. John loves to surf.   Subject? yes Verb? yes Does it pass the sound test? Yes

Identifying Compound Sentences 2. He went to the South of France during his summer vacation.   Subject? yes Verb? yes Does it pass the sound test? Yes

Identifying Compound Sentences 3. Australia during the winter break.   Subject? yes Verb? no! Does it pass the sound test? no!

Identifying Compound Sentences Okay, so we know that two of the clauses are independent, and one is not. In fact, it does not have a subject AND a verb, so it is not even a clause. But, is it still a compound sentence?

Identifying Compound Sentences That’s right! Because the sentence contains at least two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction, it is a compound sentence.

Identifying Compound Sentences But what about the last chunk of words? Don’t they matter? Don’t they change the sentence type? NO! A word cloud enters with the answer to the last question. The cloud contains the word NO!

Identifying Compound Sentences In fact, if a group of words does not pass the subject-plus-verb test, it does not change the sentence type. Don’t be fooled by imitations! Only a clause is a clause. Everything else is just a group of words, or a phrase.

Identifying Compound Sentences Phrases are very useful, and may add important details and style to your sentences. However, when it comes to identifying sentence types, they can cause trouble if you don’t recognize them for what they are.

Identifying Compound Sentences What are some phrases in our first example?  

Identifying Compound Sentences  It is difficult to take classes during the summer, but Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring, so she is taking classes instead of a vacation this summer.   The first clause—It is difficult to take classes during the summer—has two phrases: 1. to take classes 2. during the summer

Identifying Compound Sentences We could have just said, “It is difficult,” but even though it would have been an independent clause, it would have left out some important details: What is difficult? When is it difficult?

Identifying Compound Sentences The second clause—Mary wants to transfer to the university next spring—also has two phrases: 1. to transfer   2. to the university next spring

Identifying Compound Sentences Although, “Mary wants,” contains both a subject and a verb, it needs more. The same is true of the third clause. Try it on your own. Can you find the phrase?

Identifying Compound Sentences There is just one:   1. of a vacation this summer

Identifying Compound Sentences Without phrases, our sentence would look and sound very different: It is difficult, but Mary wants, so she is taking classes instead.

Identifying Compound Sentences Technically, the sentence is correct, but it is useless. It leaves us with more questions than answers.   Therefore, it is important to recognize phrases, but know that they are not clauses. Phrases provide information, details, and style, but they do not change the sentence type.

Self Test How many coordinating conjunctions are there? Name the coordinating conjunctions? What two things does a clause always have? What are the two types of clauses?   Which one is the same as a simple sentence?

Answers to Self Test There are eight coordinating conjunctions. They are, FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO ; A clause always has a subject and a verb. Clause are either independent or dependent. An independent clause is a simple sentence.

Credits Laura Neubauer lneubauer@saddleback.edu