Compound Sentences:
* Structure: Two or more independent clauses joined together by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
* Key Feature: Each clause could stand alone as a complete sentence.
* Example: *The sun was shining brightly, and the birds were singing merrily.*
Complex Sentences:
* Structure: One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone as sentences.
* Key Feature: Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (e.g., because, although, while, since, if, when).
* Example: *Because the rain was falling, we stayed inside.* (The dependent clause "Because the rain was falling" relies on the independent clause "we stayed inside" for its meaning.)
Here's a helpful way to think about it:
* Compound sentences: Think of them as two separate sentences joined together with a connector.
* Complex sentences: Think of them as a main sentence with extra information attached (like a side story).
Here's a table to summarize the differences:
| Feature | Compound Sentence | Complex Sentence |
|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Number of Clauses | Two or more | One independent, one or more dependent |
| Clause Types | Independent only | Independent and dependent |
| Connectors | Coordinating conjunctions | Subordinating conjunctions |
| Structure | "Sentence + Connector + Sentence" | "Dependent Clause + Independent Clause" or "Independent Clause + Dependent Clause" |
Remember:
* You can combine compound and complex sentences to create even more elaborate sentence structures.
* Understanding the difference between compound and complex sentences can help you write with greater clarity and sophistication.