Sentence Structure
12
Compound Sentences: Joining Clauses with Coordination
A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by coordination. Coordination connects the two clauses in a way that emphasizes both clauses equally. Consider these two sentences:
Original sentences: I spent my entire paycheck last week. I am staying home this weekend.
In their current form, these sentences contain two separate ideas that may or may not be related. Am I staying home this week because I spent my paycheck, or is there another reason for my lack of enthusiasm to leave the house? To indicate a relationship between the two ideas, we can use the coordinating conjunction so:
Revised sentence: I spent my entire paycheck last week, so I am staying home this weekend.
The revised sentence illustrates that the two ideas are connected. Notice that the sentence retains two independent clauses (I spent my entire paycheck; I am staying home this weekend) because each can stand alone as a complete idea.
Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Note that a comma precedes the coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses.
Table of Coordinating Conjunctions
| Independent Clause | Coordinating Conjunction | Independent Clause | Revised Sentence |
| I will not be attending the dance. | for (indicates a reason or cause) | I have no one to go with. | I will not be attending the dance, for I have no one to go with. |
| Posters announcing the dance are everywhere. | and (joins two ideas) | Teachers have talked about it in class. | Posters announcing the dance are everywhere, and teachers have talked about it in class. |
| Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance. | nor (indicates a negative) | Tom won’t be there either. | Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance, nor will Tom be there. |
| The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance. | but, yet (both words indicate a contrast; but is more commonly used) | I don’t think many people are going | The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance, but I don’t think many people are going.OR
The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance, yet I don’t think many people are going. |
| I might go to the next fundraising event. | or (offers an alternative) | I might donate some money to the cause. | I might go to the next fundraising event, or I might donate some money to the cause. |
| Buying a new dress is expensive. | so (indicates a result) | By staying home I will save money. | Buying a new dress is expensive, so by staying home I will save money. |
Tip
To help you remember the seven coordinating conjunctions, think of the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Remember that when you use a coordinating conjunction to connect independent clauses, a comma should precede the conjunction. (Exception: the comma is sometimes left out when the clauses are short and closely related. Example: John drove and I gave directions.)
Conjunctive Adverbs
Another method of joining two independent clauses with related and equal ideas is to use a conjunctive adverb and a semicolon. Like coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs can join independent clauses and indicate a particular relationship between them, but conjunctive adverbs create a stronger break between the clauses than coordinating conjunction do. Read the following sentences:
Original sentences: Bridget wants to take part in the next Olympics. She trains every day.
Since these sentences contain two equal and related ideas, they may be joined using a conjunctive adverb. Now, read the revised sentence:
Revised sentence: Bridget wants to take part in the next Olympics; therefore, she trains every day.
The revised sentence explains the relationship between Bridget’s desire to take part in the next Olympics and her daily training. Notice that the conjunctive adverb comes after a semicolon that separates the two clauses and is followed by a comma.
The table below lists common conjunctive adverbs and demonstrates their function.
Table of Conjunctive Adverbs
| Function | Conjunctive Adverb | Example |
| Addition | also, furthermore, moreover, besides | Alicia was late for class and stuck in traffic; furthermore, her shoe heel had broken and she had forgotten her lunch. |
| Comparison | similarly, likewise | Recycling aluminum cans is beneficial to the environment; similarly, reusing plastic bags and switching off lights reduces waste. |
| Contrast | instead, however, conversely | Most people do not walk to work; instead, they drive or take the train. |
| Emphasis | namely, certainly, indeed | The Siberian tiger is a rare creature; indeed, there are fewer than five hundred left in the wild. |
| Cause and Effect | accordingly, consequently, hence, thus | I missed my train this morning; consequently, I was late for my meeting. |
| Time | finally, next, subsequently, then | Tim crossed the barrier, jumped over the wall, and pushed through the hole in the fence; finally, he made it to the station. |
EXERCISE 2
Combine each sentence pair into a single sentence using either a coordinating conjunction or a conjunctive adverb:
- Pets are not allowed in Mr. Taylor’s building. He owns several cats and a parrot.
- New legislation prevents drivers from sending or reading text messages while driving. Many people continue to use their phones illegally.
- The coroner concluded that the young man had taken a lethal concoction of drugs. By the time his relatives found him, nothing could be done.
- Amphibians are vertebrates that live on land and in the water. Flatworms are invertebrates that live only in water.
- Ashley carefully fed and watered her tomato plants all summer. The tomatoes grew juicy and ripe.
- When he lost his car key, Simon attempted to open the door with a wire hanger, a credit card, and a paper clip. He called the manufacturer for advice.
