A Teacher’s Guide to COMPOUND
SENTENCES
By Christie Cox
COMPOUND SENTENCES are sentences that contain two or more independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as or, and, or but OR with a
semicolon. Compound sentences can be used to make your writing more fluid and less
choppy. The correct use of compound sentences can also help eliminate run-on
sentences.
Use the following rules for constructing compound sentences:
1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or,
nor, so, yet), and use a comma before the connecting word.
_________________________, and _________________________.
She enjoys making her own bread, and she usually bakes one a week.
2.
When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a connecting word other than and,
but, for, or nor, so, or yet between the two independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).
__________________________;_____________________________.
(Ted would watch any two teams play baseball; Terry preferred only National League games.)
EXAMPLE: I wanted to spend the day reading my mom made me clean my room.
SOLUTION: This sentence contains two complete thoughts. However, without any punctuation it is a runon sentence. By inserting a comma and a coordinating conjunction, you will have a compound sentence:
I wanted to spend the day reading, but my mom made me clean my room.
The following diagram is a helpful way to remember how to construct a compound sentence:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom_solut
ions/2011/02/compound-sentences
PRACTICE SENTENCES
EXERCISE 1
Put a check mark by the sentences that are compound sentences:
___1. I went to the store and bought groceries.
___2. She wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining outside.
___3. John had to do homework, mow the lawn, and do his laundry.
___4. My doorbell rang, but no one was at the door.
EXERCISE 2
Underline the two independent clauses in the following compound sentences. Put a circle around
the coordinating conjunction.
1. Michael graduated high school with honors, and he received a scholarship for college.
2. Mary did well in her interview, but someone more qualified got the position.
3. He studied all night long for his test, yet he still made a failing grade.
EXERCISE 3
Use a coordinating conjunction to make each pair of independent clauses a compound sentence.
1. Sally went to the salon.
Her stylist cut all of her hair off.
________________________________________________________
2. Mark practiced really hard.
He did not make the school basketball team.
________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 4
Write 2 compound sentences of your own:
1.________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________