Writing Workshop
Grammar: Compound Sentences
Name ________________
Period _______________
Date _________________
A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two independent clauses joined by:
A. a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so),
B. a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore), or
C. a semicolon alone.
Examples to match A, B, and C above:
A. Tom reads novels, but Jack reads comics.
B. Tom reads novels; however, Jack reads comics.
C. Tom reads novels; Jack reads comics.
Punctuation patterns to match A, B, and C above:
A. Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent clause.
B. Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause.
C. Independent clause; independent clause.
Directions: In the following exercises, turn the sentence pairs into single compound
sentences using a coordinating conjunction. (pattern A) You can rearrange or add
words in the sentence to make it sound better, but only if it's necessary.
1. The black dog has won many prizes. He doesn't know many tricks.
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2. There was a meteor shower. The crew did not know how to avoid the meteors.
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3. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua. I started to save my money.
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4. Gillian did not like to read. She was not very good at it.
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5. You can cry like a baby. You can clean your room like an adult.
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Directions: In the following exercises, turn the sentence pairs into single compound
sentences using a conjunctive adverb (pattern B).
1. The black dog has won many prizes. He doesn't know many tricks.
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2. There was a meteor shower. The crew did not know how to avoid the meteors.
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3. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua. I started to save my money.
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4. Gillian did not like to read. She was not very good at it.
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5. You can cry like a baby. You can clean your room like an adult.
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Directions: In the following exercises, turn the sentence pairs into single compound
sentences using a semi-colon (pattern C).
1. The black dog has won many prizes. He doesn't know many tricks.
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2. There was a meteor shower. The crew did not know how to avoid the meteors.
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3. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua. I started to save my money.
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4. Gillian did not like to read. She was not very good at it.
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5. You can cry like a baby. You can clean your room like an adult.
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