WRITING

COMPOUND &
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
SENTENCES
COMPOUND SENTENCES
What is a compound sentence?

 A compound sentence is a sentence that consists of AT LEAST TWO independent clauses.

 There are THREE ways to join the clauses:
 with a coordinator (Clause 1 , (FANBOYS) Clause 2)
 with a conjunctive adverb (Clause 1 ; (conjunctive adv) , Clause 2)
 with a semi-colon (Clause 1 ; Clause 2)

Examples of compound sentences

They eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and they eat it lightly.

Community colleges offer preparation for many jobs; moreover, they

prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Compound Sentences with Coordinator

 The compound sentence formed as follows:

Clause 1 Clause 2

They eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and they eat it lightly.
Coordinator

 There are ONLY seven coordinators, which are also called coordinating conjunction.

For And Nor But Or Yet So

 These coordinators can be remembered by the phrase FANBOYS.

Compound Sentences with Coordinator

For And
 For is used to add a reason.(just like  And is used to add similar or equal ideas.
‘because’)

Japanese people live longer than many

other nationalities, for they eat healthy I like to read, and I write faithfully in my
diets. journal every night.
Compound Sentences with Coordinator

Nor But
 Nor is used to add a negative, equal idea.  But is used to add an opposite idea.

I don’t like to do exercises in the I really want to attend tonight’s party,

morning, nor do I like to go to the gym. but there is so much homework left
*Note: question word order is used after nor
undone.
Compound Sentences with Coordinator

Or Yet
 Or is used to add an alternative possibility.  Yet is used to add an unexpected or
surprising continuation
However, people should limit the
amount of animal fat in their diets, or I really want to attend tonight’s party,
they risk getting heart disease. yet there is so much homework left
undone.
Compound Sentences with Coordinator

So But vs Yet
 So is used to add an expected result. But Yet
Similarity Signal opposite ideas
Doctor say that stress is another
• When two • Unexpected &
longevity factor, so try to avoid stress if
clauses are surprising
you live a longer life. completely continuation
opposite because of the
Difference information in
the first clause
• Acceptable for • Acceptable for
both meanings only one
meaning
Compound Sentences with Conjunctive Adverbs

 The compound sentence formed as follows

Clause 1
Some people often make others admire their lives on Social Network;
on the other hand, most of them live a miserable life.
Clause 2
Conjunctive adverbs

*Punctuation note: Put a semicolon before and a comma after the conjunctive adverb.
Examples of conjunctive adverbs

Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive
Meanings/Use Examples
Adverbs
Also To add a similar or equal idea. The woman’s disrespectful attitude
Beside has made her lose boyfriend; also, it
Furthermore has made her lose her job.
In addition
Moreover
The woman’s disrespectful attitude
As well has made her lose boyfriend; it has
made her lose her job as well.

The woman’s disrespectful attitude

Too has made her lose boyfriend; it has
made her lose her job, too.
Examples of conjunctive adverbs

Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive
Meanings/Use Examples
Adverbs
However To add an unexpected or surprising A number of measures have been put
Nevertheless continuation. into action to lower speed of Covid-19
Nonetheless infection; nonetheless, the number of
Still patients is still drastically rising.
On the other To add a complete contrast Dennis promised to have his
hand homework done before bed time; on
In contrast the other hand, it was nearly midnight
and none of his homework is finished.
Otherwise To give an alternative possibility, Students must take final exams;
often negative otherwise, they will receive a grade of
Incomplete.
Examples of conjunctive adverbs

Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive
Meanings/Use Examples
Adverbs
Accordingly To add an expected result The greedy local had cleared nearly
As a result three quarters of the forest for their
Consequently agricultural activities; as a result, the
Hence entire village suffered from the heavy
Therefore storm last year.
Thus
For example To add an example There are a number of prevention
For instance strategies against Covid-19; for
example, people are not allowed to
take off their masks in public area.
Compound Sentences with Semicolons

 The compound sentence formed as follows

Clause 1
Check back tomorrow; I will see if the book has arrived.
Clause 2

 This kind of compound sentence is only possible when the independent clauses are closely
related in meanings. If they are not related, they should be written as separate simple
sentences.
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES
What is a compound-complex sentence?

 A compound sentence consists at least THREE clauses – two are always independent and one
is dependent.
 Any combination of dependent and independent clause can be used in this sentence.

Examples of compound sentences (the bold clauses are dependent)

I wanted to travel after I graduated from college; however, I had to

go to work immediately.

I could not decide where I should work or what I should do, so at first
I did nothing.
EXERCISES
Exercises of compound sentences (with coordinator)

1. Form a compound sentence by adding another independent clause

 Three weeks before the exam, I had not started my paper, nor ________________________________________.

 I want to write a research paper, yet ________________________________________.

 I saw my girlfriend with another guy yesterday, so ________________________________________.

 Instead of taking the psychology final exam, we can write a ten-page research paper, or
________________________________________.
Exercises of compound sentences (with conjunctive adverbs)

2. Form a compound sentence by adding another independent clause

 Students must pay the tuition and fees before they register for classes; otherwise,
________________________________________.

 The class thought the teacher would give a test last Friday; instead,
________________________________________.

 The engineers claimed that the bridge was safe; however, ________________________________________.

 Children can be mentally benefitted from the previous peer learning session; moreover,
________________________________________.
Exercises of compound sentences

3. On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the following paragraphs, creating compound

sentences whenever possible. Try to use each of the three methods of forming a compound
sentence at least once. There are many possible ways of combing sentences.
Robots
A robot is a mechanical device that can perform boring, dangerous and difficult tasks.
First of all, robots can perform repetitive tasks without becoming tired or bored. They are used in
auto mobile factories to weld and paint. Robots can also function in hostile environments. They
are useful for exploring the ocean bottom as well as deep outer space. Finally, robots can perform
tasks requiring pinpoint accuracy. In the operating room, robotic equipment can assist the
surgeon. For instance, a robot can kill a brain tumor. It can operate on a fetus with great precision.
The field of artificial intelligence is giving robots a limited ability to think and to make
decisions. However, robots cannot think conceptually. Robots cannot function independently.
Humans have to program them. They are useless. Therefore, humans should not worry that
robots will take over the world – at least not yet.
Exercises of Compound-complex sentences

4. Read each sentence. Which is the independent clause? Which is the dependent ones? Then
add comma and/or semicolons as needed.
 Information and technology is reaching out to help people in the poorest country improve their lives for example
fishermen on the Bay of Bengal can now receive online weather reports that tell them when it is safe to go out.

 Furthermore, when the fishermen bring in the boatload of fish they can find out the current market prices for
their fish which will help them bargain with the middlemen to whom they will sell their catch.

 The cost of the cheapest computer is at least $200 and since this is more than an individual fisherman can afford
several fishing villages together can pool their money and buy one to share.

 When you call your U.S bank you may find yourself speaking to a customer service representative who is located
in the Philippines or Puerto Rico and when you need a technical support for your home computer you may get
help from a programmer in India.
Homework

 Construct 5 compound sentences and 5 compound-complex sentences

 Complete the compound sentences worksheets and compound-complex sentences worksheet