Compound Sentence

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. That means each has the
ability to stand alone as a simple sentence. Take, for example, the following two independent
clauses:
He entered the room. He could not find his mother.
Here are two ways to join the independent clauses to form a compound sentence:
Firstly, the two independent clauses can be connected by a connecting word called a coordinating
conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Remember the
acronym FANBOYS.) Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) between two
independent clauses (unless the clauses are extremely short).
He entered the room, but he could not find his mother.
Examples of the use of fanboys:
Addition: Ray does the cleaning, and Paul does the cooking.
Contradiction: The missing wallet was found, but the cash and credit card had been removed.
Unexpected results: You should have finished the work yesterday, yet it is not close to being finished
today.
Cause-effect: The phone rang again and again, so the receptionist was not able to get much work
done.
The receptionist was not able to get much work done, for she had to answer the phone again and
again.
Option: The lifeguard will warn you about the riptides, or she may require you to get out of water.
Consequence: Tom must write the letter, or his boss will do it herself.
Further negative statement: We won't be able to visit our parents, nor will they be able to visit us
during the pandemic.
*pay attention to the use of nor
Another way to join independent clauses to form a compound sentence is to put
a semicolon (;) between the clauses.
He entered the room; he could not find his mother.
He suddenly hit my brother; I wasn’t ready to prevent it.