Name: __________________________
Grammar Homework – Due Friday
Compound Sentences Connected By Comma and Conjunctions
The sentences you looked at in class this week were examples of a
COMPOUND SENTENCEs. A compound sentence connects two related,
shorter sentences. For example:
I was hiding behind the couch, but I stuck my head out and nodded.
This is a combination of the two sentences: I was hiding behind the couch. I
stuck my head out and nodded.
Each of those sentences can stand on its own, because each one has a
subject and a verb.
I was hiding behind the couch.
I stuck my head out and nodded.
Subject: I Verb: Hiding
Subject: I Verb: Stuck and Nodded
In order to connect these sentences, a conjunction was used. The most
common conjunctions are: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FANBOYS).
When you connect two sentences with a conjunction, you MUST place a
comma BEFORE the conjunction.
For example: Celia says you’re in shock. I think you’re just lazy.
To connect these sentences: Celia says you’re in shock, but I think you’re
just lazy.
This compound sentence now has two SEPARATE subjects and verbs.
Subject #1: Celia
Subject #2: I
Verb #1: Says
Verb #2: Think
This only works if BOTH sentences can stand on their own as sentences.
Using commas in this way, allows a writer to write more interesting
sentences, while avoiding run-on sentences.
Look at this final sentence:
I chased Bryce up the walkway, and then everything changed.
What is the conjunction used in this sentence? ___________
What is subject #1? ___________
What is subject #2? ___________
What is verb #1? ___________
What is verb #2? ____________
Now you are going to hunt for THREE compound sentences that use a comma
and a conjunction to connect two separate sentences. Hint: search for
sentences that contain one of the following words: Fan, And, Nor, But, Or,
Yet, So. Then just check to see if there is a comma before the word and if
both parts of the sentence contain their own subject and verb pair.
Type of Sentence
Sentence,
conjunction
sentence.
Sentence,
conjunction
sentence.
Sentence,
conjunction
sentence.
Sentence,
conjunction
sentence.
Title of Text
Ex.
Going Home
Sentence Found
Mama and Papa sleep on
the floor in
Grandfather’s house,
and we sleep in the car.