1. A Clause Is a Clause Is a Clause
A Group of Words That Always Contains a Subject and Verb in Combination
Clauses may be Independent or Dependent.
Independent Clauses can function as complete sentences, e.g., a simple sentence.
Dependent Clauses must be “attached” to an Independent Clause, e.g., a complex sentence.

2. Simple Sentence=One Independent Clause (Also called the main or principal clause)
In the bedtime story, Jack killed the goose. Subject=Jack Verb=killed Sentence Pattern= ? Pattern 3 because of the direct object goose.

3. Compound Sentence=Contains Two or More Independent Clauses
In the bedtime story, Jack killed the goose, and his mother cooked it for supper. Subject=Jack Verb=killed Subject=mother Verb=cooked

4. Punctuation for Compound Sentences
Because you have more than two independent clauses in the same sentence, you will need additional punctuation as well as conjunctions.
Commas will almost always precede coordinating conjunctions: but, or, yet, so, for and, nor. (BOYSFAN or FANBOYS)
You may elect to use a semicolon to join two independent clauses as well. Sometimes you will include a conjunctive adverb and a comma as well.

5. Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction and a comma
The Giants have won eight consecutive games, but their hopes of making the playoffs are dwindling.
Subjects: Giants and hopes
Verbs: have won and are dwindling.
Comma must precede but because two independent clauses are joined with a coordinating conjunction.

6. Compound Sentence with a Semicolon and/or Conjunctive Adverb
The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.
Subjects: Clemson Tigers and Auburn Tigers
Verbs: destroyed and will repeat
The semicolon joins two independent clauses.
; therefore, (would also work in place of comma and coordinating conjunction)

7. Conjunctive Adverb “Fix”
The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.
The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; therefore, Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.

8. Comma Splices
Never use a comma to splice together two independent clauses because you will create a comma splice or fault. This error reflects two serious grammar mistakes: one relating to punctuation and one relating to sentence structure.

9. Fixing a comma splice is easy.
President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans, many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”
President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans, and many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”
President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans; many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”

10. Practice Exercises
In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.
_____ Yesterday, the men finished the project ˄ therefore, they stayed home today.

11. Practice Exercises
In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.
_____ The shortstop dove for the ball ˄ but was not able to field it cleanly.

12. Practice Exercises
In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.
_____ Usually, Jim takes his vacation in August ˄ he’s never been to the mountains in October before.

13. Practice Exercises
In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.
_____ The secretary is searching everywhere for that lost file ˄ for we need it desperately for this afternoon’s meeting.

14. Practice Exercises
In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.
_____ Maria will either take that job in Los Angeles ˄ or take a tour of Europe immediately after graduation.