Chapter 12
The Compound Sentence
This is a simple sentence:
OVERVIEW OF
THIS CHAPTER
NOUN + VERB + . = I study.
● Building Compound This is a compound sentence because it joins two simple sentences:
Sentences 304
NOUN + VERB +,+ CONJUNCTIONS + NOUN + VERB +.
● Recognizing
Compound = I study, and I learn.
Sentences 328
● Solving Problems in
Compound Sentences:
Run-ons and Comma
Splices 334
● Bringing It All
Together 353
Building Compound Sentences
KEY TO
In the previous chapter, you learned that a simple sentence may have as few as
BUILDING BLOCKS two words: a subject (noun) and a verb. Here are two examples:
FOUNDATION WORDS
NOUNS We walked. They drove.
VERBS
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
In this chapter, you will learn how to write and recognize compound sentences.
ADJECTIVES A compound sentence is two or more related simple sentences joined together.
ADVERBS Often, these sentences are joined using a comma and a conjunction.
CONNECTING WORDS
The four most common conjunctions used to create compound sentences
PREPOSITIONS are and, but, or, and so. These are known as coordinating conjunctions.
CONJUNCTIONS Using the coordinating conjunction and, let’s join the two simple sentences
shown above:
SIMPLE SENTENCE 1 SIMPLE SENTENCE 2
Power Tip
BOAS is a good abbreviation We walked, and they drove.
for remembering the common
COMMA AND CONJUNCTION
conjunctions but, or, and, and so.
There are three more conjunc-
tions: yet, for, nor. However, Notice that the word they does not start with a capital letter in this example be-
these conjunctions are used less cause it no longer begins a sentence.
frequently, so we will not address The compound sentence is one of the most important sentence forms. To
them in detail in this chapter.
To practice using these three master it, remember these two rules:
conjunctions, visit this book’s
Web site at bedfordstmartins 1. Each simple sentence must have its own subject and its own verb.
.com/steppingstones. 2. The sentences must be joined correctly. Often, you will use the conjunctions
and, but, or, or so, and these conjunctions must be preceded by a comma.
304
, Building Compound Sentences 305
ACTIVITY 1
Complete each of the following compound sentences by adding the missing items. Remember to add a comma
before the conjunction.
A. Add two subjects and a comma. B. Add two verbs and a comma.
EXAMPLE: Lena sings, and EXAMPLE: You laugh, but I
Dan dances. cry .
1. bark and 1. The rain and the sun
chirp. .
2. won but 2. We but they
lost. .
3. arrived so 3. Julia so Damien
will leave. .
UNDERSTANDING THE MEANINGS
OF DIFFERENT CONJUNCTIONS
Each conjunction expresses a different type of relationship between two simple
sentences.
● Use and to combine two similar ideas:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
Food nourishes, and exercise strengthens.
These two ideas both express healthy influences on the body.
● Use but to contrast two different ideas:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
Blanca forgot, but Edgar remembered.
Each idea expresses a contrasting action.
● Use so to show a result:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
The team won, so we celebrated.
Here, the second idea is a result of the first idea.
● Use or to show alternatives:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
The children must participate, or they will get bored.
These two ideas express alternative options or possibilities. For online practice with
compound sentences, visit
this book’s Web site
at bedfordstmartins
.com/steppingstones.
The Compound Sentence
This is a simple sentence:
OVERVIEW OF
THIS CHAPTER
NOUN + VERB + . = I study.
● Building Compound This is a compound sentence because it joins two simple sentences:
Sentences 304
NOUN + VERB +,+ CONJUNCTIONS + NOUN + VERB +.
● Recognizing
Compound = I study, and I learn.
Sentences 328
● Solving Problems in
Compound Sentences:
Run-ons and Comma
Splices 334
● Bringing It All
Together 353
Building Compound Sentences
KEY TO
In the previous chapter, you learned that a simple sentence may have as few as
BUILDING BLOCKS two words: a subject (noun) and a verb. Here are two examples:
FOUNDATION WORDS
NOUNS We walked. They drove.
VERBS
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
In this chapter, you will learn how to write and recognize compound sentences.
ADJECTIVES A compound sentence is two or more related simple sentences joined together.
ADVERBS Often, these sentences are joined using a comma and a conjunction.
CONNECTING WORDS
The four most common conjunctions used to create compound sentences
PREPOSITIONS are and, but, or, and so. These are known as coordinating conjunctions.
CONJUNCTIONS Using the coordinating conjunction and, let’s join the two simple sentences
shown above:
SIMPLE SENTENCE 1 SIMPLE SENTENCE 2
Power Tip
BOAS is a good abbreviation We walked, and they drove.
for remembering the common
COMMA AND CONJUNCTION
conjunctions but, or, and, and so.
There are three more conjunc-
tions: yet, for, nor. However, Notice that the word they does not start with a capital letter in this example be-
these conjunctions are used less cause it no longer begins a sentence.
frequently, so we will not address The compound sentence is one of the most important sentence forms. To
them in detail in this chapter.
To practice using these three master it, remember these two rules:
conjunctions, visit this book’s
Web site at bedfordstmartins 1. Each simple sentence must have its own subject and its own verb.
.com/steppingstones. 2. The sentences must be joined correctly. Often, you will use the conjunctions
and, but, or, or so, and these conjunctions must be preceded by a comma.
304
, Building Compound Sentences 305
ACTIVITY 1
Complete each of the following compound sentences by adding the missing items. Remember to add a comma
before the conjunction.
A. Add two subjects and a comma. B. Add two verbs and a comma.
EXAMPLE: Lena sings, and EXAMPLE: You laugh, but I
Dan dances. cry .
1. bark and 1. The rain and the sun
chirp. .
2. won but 2. We but they
lost. .
3. arrived so 3. Julia so Damien
will leave. .
UNDERSTANDING THE MEANINGS
OF DIFFERENT CONJUNCTIONS
Each conjunction expresses a different type of relationship between two simple
sentences.
● Use and to combine two similar ideas:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
Food nourishes, and exercise strengthens.
These two ideas both express healthy influences on the body.
● Use but to contrast two different ideas:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
Blanca forgot, but Edgar remembered.
Each idea expresses a contrasting action.
● Use so to show a result:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
The team won, so we celebrated.
Here, the second idea is a result of the first idea.
● Use or to show alternatives:
IDEA 1 IDEA 2
The children must participate, or they will get bored.
These two ideas express alternative options or possibilities. For online practice with
compound sentences, visit
this book’s Web site
at bedfordstmartins
.com/steppingstones.
