Compound Sentences
Part 1
• Basic Sentence Structure:
-A simple sentence in English consists of
at least one subject and verb( it also
called an independent clause).
-Some sentences may also have more
than one subject, more than one verb,
or more than one subject/verb
combination.
• Subjects
Explanation
Structures
The subject is usually the
most important person,
thing, or idea in the
sentence.
Noun
The subject maybe a word,
a phrase (a group of words)
or a clause (a group of
words with a subject/verb
combination)
Pronoun
Examples
-Population is a serious
issue.
Phrase
-It increased by 87 million
people worldwide in
1993.
-The population of the
world is a serious issue.
-Birth rates and life
expectancy are higher.
Clause
-What I need is a long
holiday.
• Verbs
Explanation
The verb tells what the subject is
or does.
Examples
The world population is growing
rapidly.
Birth rates are higher.
Today, more babies can live
longer.
• Compound Sentences.
A compound sentence is two or more simple
sentences(independent clauses) joined together
by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
e.g. India has over 1 billion people, and it is
expected to reach 1.5 billion by 2050.
A semicolon (;) may sometimes be used instead of
one of these conjunctions.
e.g. India has over 1 billion people; it is expected
to reach 1.5 billion by 2050.
 The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for,
nor, or, so and yet.
 Coordinating conjunctions can join words,
phrases, and clauses.
 When coordinating conjunctions can join clauses,
they form compound sentences.
 A comma generally comes before the conjunction
in a compound sentence.
 In compound sentences, if the subject of the two
clauses is the same, a pronoun is often used in
the second clause.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Structures
Explanation
Examples
and
And shows additional information.
China has a huge population,
and it is growing.
but
yet
Both but and yet show contrast.
Argentina is a large country,
but (yet) it has a small
population.
for
As a conjunction, for means “because.”
Population growth is a
For is formal; it is more common in writing problem, for the Earth has
than in speaking.
limited resources.
nor
Nor joints two negative sentences. The word
order of the clause with nor changes. The
appropriate auxiliary verb must come before
the subject.
or
Or shows a choice between two possibilities. Governments can ignore the
problem, or they can help to
solve it.
so
As a conjunction, so means “as a result” or
“therefore”
-Norway is not large, nor does
it have a large population.
- Norway is not large, nor is it
overpopulated.
China is trying to slow its
population growth, so it has
put limits on family size.
• Coordinating conjunctions with Words and Phrases
Structures
Examples
Verbs
Today, the world produces enough food and can
nourish every human.
Nouns
Problems with food involve distribution and diet.
Adjectives
People everywhere are eating beef, which is harder and
more expensive to produce than other food.
Adverbs
We can eat simply but adequately.
Phrases
Today, hunger is not caused by scarcity or by
overpopulation.
Clauses
In the future, hunger will be worse because the
population is growing and because diets are changing.
Complex Sentences
Part 2
• Complex Sentences.
A complex sentence has a main (independent)
clause and at least one dependant clause.
_________________________________________________________
• A main clause has a subject and verb and can stand alone. It
is a complete sentence.
• A dependent clause also has a subject and verb, but alone, it
is not complete. It depends on the main clause.
main clause
dependent clause
The U.N. Was created because world leaders wanted to meet.
• Types of dependent clauses
In a complex sentence, the dependent clause is
connected to the main clause by a
subordinating conjunction, such as when,
because, although, and if and they show
different relationships between the two
clauses.
Types of
Dependent Clauses
Common Subordinating
Conjunctions
Examples
Condition
If
unless
-If you don't save some money,
you can't go on vacation.
-You can't go on vacation unless
you save some money.
Contrast
although
even though
Even though (Although) he's a
millionaire, he lives in a very
small flat.
Purpose
so that
We took some blankets so that
we could keep warm.
Reason
because
She married Alex because she
loves him.
Time
After, before, until, since, Maha went to bed after she
when, whenever, while, as had done her homework.
• Now, it is your
turn!
Warm-Up
Mark the following as simple, compound or complex
and Why?
• The rain fell for hours and ruined the picnic.
• I left, but Marcy stayed.
• Polar bears feed on seals; seals feed on fish.
• Female penguins usually stay at sea, but they
return when their eggs hatch.
Warm-Up
• Kiwi birds have nostrils on their beaks; they can
smell earthworms.
• Most rabbits drown in water, but the marsh
rabbit can swim.
• The sloth eats and sleep while hanging upside
down.
•
Warm-Up
Create a compound sentence by joining the two
independent clauses using a suitable coordinating
conjunction.
1- I’m driving to the office in an hour. I’ll pick up the
supplies on the way.
2- She did not cheat on the test. It was not the right
thing to do.
3- I really want to go to work. I am too sick to drive.
4- Everyone was busy. I went to the movie alone.
5- Cats are good pets, for they are clean and are not noisy.
6- We have never been to Asia. We have never visited Africa.
7- He didn’t want to go to the dentist. He went anyway.
Thank you!
^_^
Clauses of Time and
Condition in the Present
and Future
Part 3
• A. Clauses of Time and Condition: Present or
Unspecified Time
Clauses of Time and Condition in the present or
unspecified time use when, whenever and if.
 When and Whenever can relate two actions or
situations that exist at the same time or that
immediately follow each other.
 If can relate two actions or situations and by cause
and effect.
Structures
Explanations
Examples
When
The simple present tense is
usually used in both clauses
in these sentences. The
dependent clause may begin
or end the sentence. Use a
comma after a dependent
clause that begins the
sentence.
When I plan a trip, I always
get as much information as
possible.
I ask a lot of questions when
I visit the travel agent.
Whenever
Whenever is similar to Whenever I travel, I get very
when, but it is used to excited.
emphasize the idea of “any
time "or “every time”
if
The main clause is the effect If it’s possible, we make our
or result of the if clause.
travel plans in advance.
You should plan ahead if you
want discount prices.
• A. Clauses of Time and Condition: Future Time
Time clauses (with after, before, when, etc.) can
relate statements about future plans or
possibilities.
 Sentences with if and unless show a direct
cause-effect relationship.
The action or situation in the main clause is the
effect or result of the action or situation in the
dependent clause.
Structures
After
before
If
Unless
when
Explanations
Examples
The verb in the dependent After I complete this project,
clause is usually in the I am going to take a long
simple present tense. It vacation.
cannot be in a future tense.
It will be a week before I
The verb in the main clause complete it.
is usually in a future tense,
but a model auxiliary may If the weather is nice, I will
also be used.
go to the beach.
I am going to stay home if
the weather isn’t nice.
The dependent clause may
begin or end the sentence. Unless it’s cold, I will go to
Use a comma after a the beach.
dependent
clause
that I am going to stay home
begins the sentence.
unless the weather is nice.
When I finish this project, I
will take some time off.
Transitions
Part 4
Transitions
• Transitions are words or phrases that connect
two related ideas.
• In written English, transitions often appear in
compound sentences joined by a semicolon.
• Transitions may also begin new sentences.
• In most cases, a comma follows the transition.
((Some of the most common transitions P.225))