Learning Objective: At the end of the session, the students are expected to be able to construct compound sentences.


A compound sentence combines two or more independent clauses. Commas separate the clauses of a compound sentence. (A short sentence joined by and is sometimes combined without a comma.)


Example: She talks and he listens. A semicolon can take the place of the conjunction and comma. Only clauses closely related in thought should be joined to make a compound sentence.





Instructions: Tell if the following sentences are good combinations.


1. Mr. Jones is a very short man, but he walks with an air of authority.

2. Today has been very warm, and I have some English lessons to write.

3. I have again been to Mexico, but I don't expect to return soon.

4. My dog is a short, stupid-looking dog, but he is very smart.

5. The mail comes about noon each day, and I need to weed the flowers.



The conjunction should express the proper relationship between the clauses. And joins ideas of equal importance. Or joins clauses that express alternatives. Nor joins negative ideas together. But joins clauses that express contrasting ideas.


Instructions: Combine the following sentences using the appropriate co-ordinate conjunctions, and, but, or, nor.

1. Mother wanted to watch the movie. Dad wanted to see the wrestling.

2. You must remember your password. You cannot log on.

3. I wanted to walk across the river. The ice was too thin.

4. It was a warm, beautiful day. My desires matched the day perfectly.

5. You did not help you brother. He doesn't expect you to help him.



Do not confuse a compound sentence with a simple sentence having compound parts. Both sides of the conjunction will make sense in a compound sentence. Example: Mother baked a cake / and / I frosted it.


Instructions: Tell whether the following sentences are compound sentences or not. If they are not, tell which compound part they are.

1. The girl just sat there but said nothing.

2. I looked for the book, but I could not find it.

3. Jeff must have arrived safely, or we would have been notified.

4. One of my friends and his dad have flown to Brazil.

5. Everyone was playing or swimming in the pool.