Tag: compound sentence

A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses.

A Review of Clauses

Posted on by metbaseball

In review, an independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought, which enables it to stand alone as a sentence; whereas, a dependent clause is a group of words that, though it contains a subject and a verb, does not express a complete thought because it begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Here are the types of sentences that can be constructed from independent and dependent clauses.

  • A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
    • She threw the ball.
  • A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses.
    • She threw the ball, and he caught it.
  • A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
    • When she threw the ball to him, he dropped it.
    • When she threw the ball, he dropped it because he lost it in the sun.
  • A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
    • He wanted to ask her to go to the dance when he saw her yesterday, but he was too nervous.

Compound Sentences

Posted on by metbaseball

A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses is a compound sentence. One way to connect the independent clauses is by using a conjunctive adverb; another way is by using a coordinating conjunction.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. As a group, they form the “fanboys,” an acronym that aids their recall.

Whenever a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, a comma must be inserted before the conjunction.

Example: Jill ate the hamburger, for she was hungry.

Note: In the above example, “for” means “because.”

Is the following a compound sentence? Is the sentence punctuated correctly?

* The Mets released Luis Castillo on Friday but they didn’t release Oliver Perez until Monday.

It’s a compound sentence; however, it’s not punctuated correctly. It needs a comma before “but.”