What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
The four ways to join independent clauses:
1. Comma and Coordinating Conjunction: This is the most common way to join independent clauses. You use a comma before the conjunction, which connects the two clauses. The seven coordinating conjunctions are:
* For
* And
* Nor
* But
* Or
* Yet
* So
Example: The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
2. Semicolon: You can use a semicolon to separate two closely related independent clauses.
Example: The storm raged for hours; the wind howled relentlessly.
3. Conjunctive Adverb: You can use a conjunctive adverb (like however, therefore, moreover, etc.) to join two independent clauses. You use a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it.
Example: The team played hard; however, they lost the game.
4. Colon: You can use a colon to join two independent clauses when the second clause explains or expands on the first clause.
Example: The coach had a message for his players: they needed to play with more heart.
Remember:
* Always use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when joining two independent clauses.
* Never use a comma to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. This is known as a comma splice and is considered a grammatical error.