The Proper Use of the
Compound Sentence
Lesson 9
Joseph C. Blumenthal
A compound sentence is very easy to
make. We merely need to combine
two simple sentences by using one of
these conjunctions: and, ____, or
_____.
A compound sentence is very easy to
make. We merely need to combine
two simple sentences by using one of
these conjunctions: and, _but_, or
__or__.
Because compound sentences are so easy to
make, we must avoid overusing them. Use a
compound sentence to combine only similar
or related ideas that are of equal
importance.
Bob studies Spanish, and our school has
a gym.
Should these two ideas have been
combined? (Yes, No)
Because compound sentences are so easy to
make, we must avoid overusing them. Use a
compound sentence to combine only similar
or related ideas that are of equal
importance.
Bob studies Spanish, and our school has
a gym.
Should these two ideas have been
combined? (Yes, No)
a. Bob studies Spanish, and our school
has a gym.
b. Bob studies Spanish, and Carol
studies French.
Which compound sentence is better
because the ideas are similar? (a, b)
a. Bob studies Spanish, and our school
has a gym.
b. Bob studies Spanish, and Carol
studies French.
Which compound sentence is better
because the ideas are similar? (a, b)
Our tree is small. It gives very little
shade.
Because there is a relationship
between the size of the tree and the
amount of shade, these sentences
would make a (good, poor) compound
sentence.
Our tree is small. It gives very little
shade.
Because there is a relationship
between the size of the tree and the
amount of shade, these sentences
would make a (good, poor) compound
sentence.
Our tree is small. We bought it at a
nursery.
Although both these sentences are
about a tree, they have little
relationship to each other.
Therefore, they would make a (good,
poor) compound sentence.
Our tree is small. We bought it at a
nursery.
Although both these sentences are
about a tree, they have little
relationship to each other.
Therefore, they would make a (good,
poor) compound sentence.
a. Our tree is small, and it gives very
little shade.
b. Our tree is small, and we bought it
at a nursery.
Which compound is better? (a, b)
a. Our tree is small, and it gives
very little shade.
b. Our tree is small, and we bought it
at a nursery.
Which compound is better? (a, b)
The two parts of a compound sentence
should be equal in importance.
The Millers have a dog, and it is brown.
The fact that the dog is brown is much less
important than the fact that the Millers
have a dog.
Is this a good compound sentence? (Yes, No)
The two parts of a compound sentence
should be equal in importance.
The Millers have a dog, and it is brown.
The fact that the dog is brown is much less
important than the fact that the Millers
have a dog.
Is this a good compound sentence? (Yes, No)
a. The Millers have a brown dog.
b. The Millers have a dog, and it is
brown.
Sentence a is a simple sentence; sentence b
is a compound sentence. The sentence
which is better because it doesn’t give too
much importance to the color of the dog is
the (simple, compound) sentence.
a. The Millers have a brown dog.
b. The Millers have a dog, and it is
brown.
Sentence a is a simple sentence; sentence b
is a compound sentence. The sentence
which is better because it doesn’t give too
much importance to the color of the dog is
the (simple, compound) sentence.
We have an old apple tree, and it is in
our back yard.
The important fact is that we have an apple tree.
Whether it is located in the back yard or the
front yard is a mere detail.
The two ideas are (equal, unequal) in importance.
We have an old apple tree, and it is in
our back yard.
The important fact is that we have an apple tree.
Whether it is located in the back yard or the
front yard is a mere detail.
The two ideas are (equal, unequal) in importance.
a. We have an old apple tree in our
back yard.
b. We have an apple tree, and it is in
our back yard.
Sentence a is simple; sentence b is compound.
The sentence which is better because it doesn’t
give too much importance to the location of
the tree is the (simple, compound) sentence.
a. We have an old apple tree in our
back yard.
b. We have an apple tree, and it is in
our back yard.
Sentence a is simple; sentence b is compound.
The sentence which is better because it doesn’t
give too much importance to the location of
the tree is the (simple, compound) sentence.
a. She bought an old lamp at a
rummage sale, and it was brass.
b. She bought an old lamp at a
rummage sale, and it turned out to
be a valuable antique.
Which compound sentence is better because the
two ideas are more nearly equal importance?
(a, b)
a. She bought an old lamp at a
rummage sale, and it was brass.
b. She bought an old lamp at a
rummage sale, and it turned out to
be a valuable antique.
Which compound sentence is better because the
two ideas are more nearly equal importance?
(a, b)
a. The house was attractive. The
neighborhood appealed to us.
b. The house was attractive. Rents are
high in our city.
Which pair of sentences would make a better
compound sentence because their ideas are
similar? (a, b)
a. The house was attractive. The
neighborhood appealed to us.
b. The house was attractive. Rents are
high in our city.
Which pair of sentences would make a better
compound sentence because their ideas are
similar? (a, b)
a. Brad apologized to Cathy. She was
with her sister.
b. Brad apologized to Cathy. She
accepted his apology.
Which pair of sentences would make a better
compound sentence because their ideas are
related? (a, b)
a. Brad apologized to Cathy. She was
with her sister.
b. Brad apologized to Cathy. She
accepted his apology.
Which pair of sentences would make a better
compound sentence because their ideas are
related? (a, b)
a. Cars were a luxury in those days,
and they did not have self-starters.
b. Cars were a luxury in those days,
and few people could afford them.
Which is a better compound sentence? (a, b)
a. Cars were a luxury in those days,
and they did not have self-starters.
b. Cars were a luxury in those days,
and few people could afford them.
Which is a better compound sentence? (a, b)
a. My birthday was approaching, and I
was beginning to think about gifts.
b. My birthday was approaching, and I
had always wanted to go deer hunting.
Which is a better compound sentence? (a, b)
a. My birthday was approaching, and I
was beginning to think about gifts.
b. My birthday was approaching, and I
had always wanted to go deer hunting.
Which is a better compound sentence? (a, b)
You can always add salt to your food, but
you cannot remove it once it is in.
The first part of this sentence concerns adding
salt to food; the second part concerns
removing it. This compound sentence,
therefore, is (good, poor).
You can always add salt to your food, but
you cannot remove it once it is in.
The first part of this sentence concerns adding
salt to food; the second part concerns
removing it. This compound sentence,
therefore, is (good, poor).
Arthur drove most of the way, and we
had two flat tires.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
Arthur drove most of the way, and we
had two flat tires.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
We cannot prevent tornadoes, but we can
minimize their destructiveness.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
We cannot prevent tornadoes, but we can
minimize their destructiveness.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
The car had no lights, and the accident
occurred on our corner.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
The car had no lights, and the accident
occurred on our corner.
This compound sentence, therefore, is
(good, poor).
Use a compound sentence when you want
your reader to think of two ideas in
connection with each other.
a. The engine runs smoothly. It uses too
much gas.
b. The engine runs smoothly, but it uses
too much gas.
Which arrangement brings the two ideas
into closer relationship? (a, b)
Use a compound sentence when you want
your reader to think of two ideas in
connection with each other.
a. The engine runs smoothly. It uses too
much gas.
b. The engine runs smoothly, but it
uses too much gas.
Which arrangement brings the two ideas
into closer relationship? (a, b)
a. You must shut the gate, or the dog will
get out.
b. You must shut the gate. The dog will
get out.
Which arrangement brings out the
relationship between the two ideas more
clearly? (a, b)
a. You must shut the gate, or the dog
will get out.
b. You must shut the gate. The dog will
get out.
Which arrangement brings out the
relationship between the two ideas more
clearly? (a, b)
a. I liked the dog. It was a collie.
b. I liked the dog. The dog liked me.
Which pair of sentences would you connect
with and to bring the two ideas into a
closer relationship? (a, b)
a. I liked the dog. It was a collie.
b. I liked the dog. The dog liked me.
Which pair of sentences would you connect
with and to bring the two ideas into a
closer relationship? (a, b)
I liked the dog. The dog liked me.
Because both parts of the sentences
concern the relationship between the
person and the dog, this is a (good, poor)
compound sentence.
I liked the dog. The dog liked me.
Because both parts of the sentences
concern the relationship between the
person and the dog, this is a (good, poor)
compound sentence.
a. I was born in Utah. Our family soon
moved to Oregon.
b. I was born in Utah. This state has
magnificent scenery.
Which pair of sentences could better be
combined into a compound sentence? (a, b)
a. I was born in Utah. Our family soon
moved to Oregon.
b. I was born in Utah. This state has
magnificent scenery.
Which pair of sentences could better be
combined into a compound sentence? (a, b)
I was born in Utah, but our family soon
moved to Oregon.
This is a good compound sentence because
both parts concern (location, growth).
I was born in Utah, but our family soon
moved to Oregon.
This is a good compound sentence because
both parts concern (location, growth).
Use the conjunction and merely to add one
new idea to another.
Use the conjunction but to point out a
contrast or contradiction between the two
ideas.
I didn’t want a reward,…Mr. Lopez made
me take it.
Would and or but make better sense in this
sentence? (and, but)
Use the conjunction and merely to add one
new idea to another.
Use the conjunction but to point out a
contrast or contradiction between the two
ideas.
I didn’t want a reward,…Mr. Lopez made
me take it.
Would and or but make better sense in this
sentence? (and, but)
Use the conjunction or to express a choice
between two ideas.
a. I steered for the shore, … the wind
kept turning the boat.
b. The course is getting harder, … I am
getting lazier.
In which sentence would or make good sense?
(a, b)
Use the conjunction or to express a choice
between two ideas.
a. I steered for the shore, … the wind
kept turning the boat.
b. The course is getting harder, … I
am getting lazier.
In which sentence would or make good sense?
(a, b)
Write the following answers on
your own sheet of paper.
Our school is small … we have good
teams.
1. Which conjunction would bring out the
meaning more clearly? (and, but)
Hockey originated in Canada, … many of
the best players are Canadian.
2. Which conjunction would bring out the
meaning more clearly? (and, but)
Machinery is supposed to make life
easier, … people seem to be busier
than ever.
3. Which conjunction would bring out the
meaning more clearly? (and, but)
It is not a good idea to begin a sentence
with a conjunction. Let the conjunction
stand between the two parts of a
sentence where it can do its job of
connecting.
a. It was a hot day. And all the windows
were open.
b. It was a hot day, and all the windows
were open.
4. The conjunction and is properly
used in (a, b).
a. I dropped the light bulb, but it didn’t
break.
b. I dropped the light bulb. But it didn’t
break.
5. The conjunction but is properly
used in (a, b).
a. You must follow the recipe precisely.
Or the fudge will be a failure.
b. You must follow the recipe precisely,
or the fudge will be failure.
6. The conjunction or is properly used
in (a, b).
You are done!!!