Compound Sentence

Compound Sentence 1
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses, joined by coordinating conjunctions.

1. I ate a pie. (Simple Sentence)

2. I still feel hungry. (Simple Sentence)
3. I ate a large pie, but I still feel hungry. (Compound Sentence)

The first two sentences (simple sentences) are joined by the coordinating conjunction ‘but’ in the third sentence to
form a compound sentence. We often remember coordinating conjunctions by memorizing FANBOYS
▪ For (Explains reason or purpose)
▪ And (Adds one thing to another)
▪ Nor (Presents an alternative negative idea)
▪ But (Shows contrast)
▪ Or (Presents an alternative idea)
▪ Yet (Introduces a contrasting idea; like but)
▪ So (shows effect, result)

Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with correct coordinating conjunctions. Each of the seven conjunctions will be used once.
1. I don’t like people singing in the night, ___________ do I like people parking in front of my house.
2. Some people like Chinese food, ___________ I like Italian food.
3. Christmas was only a day away, ___________ James hasn’t prepared any presents for his family.
4. James could go to the park, ___________ he could go to the beach.
5. James spent all day cleaning his house, ___________ he is keen to please his parents.
6. Sam went out shopping, ___________ he bought some shoes.
7. Jack’s teacher’s father passed away, ___________ he sent her some flowers.

Exercise 2
Read the following paragraph and underline 6 compound sentences.

Many people donate money to charities. In 2014, the estimated total donation amount to charity by UK adults in 2014
was £10.6 billion. The average donation was £14. Medical charities were the most popular with 33% of donations,
but the children’s charities were a close second with 30% of donations. Sports charities didn’t attract a lot of people’s
sympathy, nor did arts charities. Animals charities fared well with 21% of donations, and overseas charities received
the attention of the British pubic with 20%. Women are more likely to donate to charities, and they are also more
likely to donate more to causes like medical, children and animals. However, men donate more to overseas charities.
Cash is the most popular method of giving among all age groups. People use various types of technologies to donate,
so charities should make giving donations more accessible. In the future, charities should communicate the positive
impact of people’s donations, and people need to know the differences between similar charities.
 Compound Sentence 2
Compound sentence has several other distinctive features
1. Coordinating conjunctions are preceded by a comma.
- I want to exercise, but I don’t have the time
- The school closed for the day, for there was a snowstorm on the way.
However, use of coordinating conjunctions without a comma is also quite common.
2. Coordinating conjunctions (mainly ‘and’ and ‘but’) should not be used at the start of a sentence.
In formal writing, it is strongly advised that sentences do not begin with coordinating conjunctions.
However, in informal writing (such as novels), it is the writer’s judgment as to whether they begin a
sentence with a coordinating conjunction.

Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks in the sentences with the correct coordinating conjunction. Some conjunctions are used more than
once while one conjunction is not used.
FOR AND NOR BUT

OR YET SO

1. 2.
The owner made a new policy to eliminate A passenger on a bus became violent, __________
lateness at work, ___________ she showed up 20 the bus driver called the police.
minutes late a day after implementing the policy.

3. 4
A group of students decided to buy a present for We could go to the Italian restaurant, __________
their teacher, ___________ they couldn’t agree on we can stay at home and order some food.
what to buy.

5. 6.

Watching TV can make people lazy, ___________ Many students failed to complete their homework,
people can end up wasting a lot of time. ___________ the teacher decided to give them all
detention.

7. 8.
The court ordered the tenants to be evicted, John wanted a relaxing holiday, ___________ he
___________ they had failed to pay their rent for chose to go on an adventure holiday.
six months.

9. 10.

Jackson wanted to eat Chinese food, ___________ Dad decided to stop at a service station,
Maria wanted to go for Mexican food. ___________ they had driven for hours straight.
 Answer Key
Exercise 1
1. Nor
2. But/Yet
3. But/Yet
4. Or
5. For
6. And
7. So

Exercise 2
Many people donate money to charities. In 2014, the estimated total amount donated to charity by UK adults in 2014
was £10.6 billion. The average donation was £14. Medical charities were the most popular with 33% of donations, but
the children’s charities were a close second with 30% of donations. Sports charities didn’t attract a lot of people’s
sympathy, nor did arts charities. Animals charities fared well with 21% of donations, and overseas charities received
the attention of the British pubic with 20%. Women are more likely to donate to charities, and they are also more
likely to donate more to causes like medical, children and animals. However, men donate more to overseas charities.
Cash is the most popular method of giving among all age groups. People use various types of technologies to donate,
so charities should make giving donations more accessible. In the future, charities should communicate the positive
impact of people’s donations, and people need to know the differences between similar charities.

Exercise 3

1. Yet 2. So

3. But 4. Or

5. And 6. So

7. For 8. Yet

9. But 10. For