Transcript Making Compound Sentences

Making Compound
Sentences
Characteristics of a
sentence:
A capital letter at the beginning
 A period, question mark, or
exclamation point at the end
 A subject, stated only once
 A complete verb phrase
 Standard word order
 An independent clause

Simple sentences

contain one independent clause (one
subject and one verb phrase)
– My brother is traveling in South America
this week.
– Did you remember to lock the door?
More about simple sentences

The subject and the verb in a simple
sentence may be made of several
words.
– My father, sister, brother and I visited
the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and
The Empire State Building on Thursday.
– You would have been surprised!
Compound Sentences
contain two or more independent
clauses
 combine them using

– a comma and a coordinating conjunction
– a semicolon
– a semicolon + transition + comma
Try it yourself

Analyze the paragraphs on p. 13 of
Grammar Troublespots. Can you find
the compound sentences?
Compound sentences with
coordinating conjunctions
Use a comma before, not after, the
conjunction.
 Use the mnemonic FANBOYS to remember
the conjunctions.

FANBOYS
F
for
English is studied by more people than any other language,
for it has become the language of business, tourism, science,
and diplomacy.
A
and
Jose majored in physics, and his brother studied art
history.
N
nor
I have never visited Venezuela, nor do I have much hope of
going there soon.
B
but
Liliana studied calculus in high school, but she will be
required to take it again here at the university.
O
or
In this course students can write a research paper, or they
can take a final examination.
Y
yet
We have worked very hard on this project, yet we are not
certain our work will be rewarded.
S
so
The project is due on Monday, so I have to work this
weekend rather than relax with my friends.
Try it yourself
Without looking at the FANBOYS
chart, write the coordinating
conjunction that each letter stands
for. Then write an example of a
sentence that uses that word. Check
the position of the comma carefully.
Compound sentences with
semicolons

Use a semicolon when the meaning of the
two independent clauses is closely related:
– Kevin wants to take a vacation in the mountains;
Tracy would rather spend a week at the beach.
– Jim drives a station wagon; his wife, Elaine, has
a sports car.
– Students lead busy lives; they often eat fast
food.
Compound sentences with
semicolons and transitions
Use a semicolon and a transition to clarify
the relationship between sentences.
 Use a comma after the transition.

– Kevin wants to take a vacation in the mountains;
however, Tracy would rather spend a week at
the beach.
– Jim drives a station wagon; on the other hand,
his wife, Elaine, has a sports car.
– Students lead busy lives; as a result, they often
eat fast food.
More about transitions

You can also use transition words between
sentences. The first sentence ends with a
period and the second begins with a
transition word followed by a comma.
– Kevin wants to take a vacation in the mountains.
However, Tracy would rather spend a week at
the beach.
Problems with semicolons

Don’t begin a line with a semicolon:
– X I have a degree in computer science
;however, I cannot repair computers.

Don’t use a semicolon where a comma is
required:
– X Exercise can reduce stress. In fact; studies
show that even moderate exercise is effective.

Don’t use a comma where a semicolon is
required:
– X We worked all weekend on the project,
however, we didn’t finish on time.
The placement of transitions

Transitions can also be used in the
middle or at the end of the second
independent clause:
– The little girl had always hated spiders; in fact,
she was terrified of them.
– The little girl had always hated spiders. She
was, in fact, terrified of them.
– The little girl had always hated spiders. She
was terrified of them, in fact.
Useful transitions
meaning
words
addition (and)
also, additionally, in addition, moreover, furthermore
cause/effect (for) (so)
therefore, thus, as a result, as a consequence,
consequently, for this reason
choice (or)
instead, on the other hand, otherwise
similarities (and)
also, as well as, by comparison, similarly, likewise
concession (yet) (but)
nevertheless, still, however, nonetheless
contrast (but) (yet)
however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless
contradiction
(but) (yet)
on the contrary
emphasis (and)
in fact, indeed, as a matter of fact, undoubtedly
summary (and)
after all, all in all, finally, overall, in conclusion, in
summary, in sum, in closing
Try it yourself
Choose five transitions you’ve never
used before but would like to learn.
 Write model sentences in your
notebook.
 Use one of these sentences for your
daily practice.

Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence is two independent
clauses joined together with no
punctuation. You need a semicolon or a
period:
– X The man bought a car his wife didn’t know
about it.
– The man bought a car. His wife didn’t know
about it.
– The man bought a car; his wife didn’t know
about it.
Try it yourself
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to living with
family members rather than living alone I would rather live with
my family.
When people live with their families they always have something
to do they can play with brothers and sisters, talk with parents,
and get advice from grandparents.
In contrast, when people live alone, they may become bored they
may have not one to talk to.
In many families older brothers and sisters help younger
brothers and sisters for example my older brother explains
difficult exercises to me and listens to my problems.
Because of these advantages, I would rather live with my family
than live alone I plan to live with my family until I get married.
Comma Splices

A comma splice is two independent clauses
joined with a comma. You can fix it by
adding a coordinating conjunction after the
comma:
– X The man bought a car, his wife didn’t know
about it.
– The man bought a car, but his wife didn’t know
about it.

You can also fix it by creating separate
sentences, adding a semicolon, or using
subordination.
Remember…

A transition with commas is not
enough to separate two independent
clauses. You need a semicolon.
– X The man bought a car, however, his
wife didn’t know about it.
– The man bought a car; however, his wife
didn’t know about it.
What’s wrong here?
It was close to 7:00 pm, I began to prepare
dinner.
 My grandparents have a small field they grow
vegetables there.
 It was mid-June when we went to Florida, we
spent the whole summer there.
 On the way back to the hotel, we went to visit
Saranac Lake.
 He picked the flowers, two hours later they died.

– This exercise is from Grammar Troublespots, by Ann
Raimes, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992, p. 16