COMPOUND SENTENCES MODULE
Geissa R. Torres, Ph.D
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO-ARECIBO
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
2014

COMPOUND SENTENCE MODULE
Pre-Test
Part I. Identifying Compound and Simple Sentences.
Place "S" for simple or "C" for compound in the blank after the sentence.
1. I haven't seen Ann lately, and I won't see her again until fall. _____
2. Mr. Holmes listens to the news every night, and then he goes to bed. _____
3. Helen is going to Spain today and will come home July 25. _____
4. Will you wait for me, or do you want to go ahead? _____
5. The children argue and wrangle over every little thing. _____
6. We had nearly finished our thirty-six holes of golf, and I was exhausted. _____
7. I had originally planned to attend the meeting; however, now I find I can't. _____
8. Mrs. Brent likes to drive; she finds it relaxing. _____
9. Annette is afraid of the water; consequently, she had trouble passing the swimming
test. _____
10. Delaware used to be a slave state; however, during the Civil War, it refused to
secede. _____
11. Should I carve the roast, or do you want to do it? _____
12. Ellen was calm after the accident, but Jane was very nervous. _____
13. On their vacation, the Smiths golfed and swam every day. _____
14. The Rodriguez and the Melendez like to attend concerts together. _____
15. I did my grocery shopping today; consequently, our cupboard is full. _____
16. The President will hold a press conference today. _____
17. Mr. Nelson looked angry; accordingly, I wasn't eager to introduce myself. _____
18. Shall we have a picnic, or would you like to eat inside? _____
19. Dan showered and dressed in his best clothes. _____
20. The ice cream was partly melted; nevertheless, it tasted good. _____

Part II. Combine the following simple sentences into compound sentences.
1. The black dog has won many prizes. He doesn't know many tricks.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. She saw a cat run in front of her. She fell down while roller-skating.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. There was a meteor shower. The crew did not know how to avoid the meteors.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua. I started to save my money.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. Gillian did not like to read. She was not very good at it.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. Pam liked Wayne. Leena also liked Wayne.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. The little boy did not like going to school. He went anyway.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. You can cry like a baby. You can clean your room like an adult.

Compound Sentences
Varying Sentence Structure
Do writers want their readers to fall asleep in the middle of a sentence? Of course not.
When a writer tells a story, he or she uses words to create a variety of interesting
sentences. Read the following paragraphs. Which one sparks your interest more?
Paul Revere waited in Charlestown. He looked for a light at the Old North
Church. He saw a light. He saw a second light. He leaped on his horse. He
warned villagers of a British attack.
While Paul Revere waited in Charlestown, he looked for a light at the Old North
Church. He saw one light, and then he saw a second light. He leaped onto his
horse and warned villagers of a British attack.
The second paragraph contains a mixture of simple, compound, and complex
sentences that makes the writing more interesting. A simple sentence has one
independent clause.
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. A complex sentence
has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
SIMPLE SENTENCE: Paul Revere pats his horse. [one independent clause]
NOTE: Simple sentences may have compound subjects, compound verbs, or both.
COMPOUND SENTENCE: Paul looked up at the church, and he waited for a signal.
[two independent clauses joined by the conjunction and]
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two complete ideas (called
clauses) that are related. These two clauses are usually connected in a compound
sentence by a conjunction.
Compound Sentences
- A compound sentence has two independent clauses. An independent clause is

a part of a sentence that can stand alone because it contains a subject
and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
- Basically, a compound contains two simple sentences.
- These independent clauses are joined by a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so).
There are three methods of combining two independent clauses (two simple sentences)
Method one:
Examples:
1. The shoplifter had stolen clothes, so he ran once he saw the police.
 Both sides of the conjunction “so” are complete sentences. “The shoplifter had
stolen clothes” can stand alone and so can “he ran once he saw the police.”
Therefore, this is a compound sentence.
2. They spoke to him in Spanish, but he responded in English.
 This is also a compound sentence that uses a conjunction to separate two
individual clauses.
http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_mk/la/latm/EOL807SW.PDF
The English language has seven coordinating conjunctions, and they’re easy to
remember if you can just remember FANBOYS:
 For - Explains reason or purpose (just like “because”)
I go to the park every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks on the lake.
 And - Adds one thing to another
I go to the park every Sunday to watch the ducks on the lake and the shirtless men
playing soccer.

 Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative
idea
I don’t go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer.
 But - Shows contrast
The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter, but it’s better in the heat of
summer.
 Or - Presents an alternative or a choice
The men play on teams: shirts or skins.
 Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically (similar
to “but”)
I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.
 So - Indicates effect, result or consequence
I’ve started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an excuse to watch the
game each week.
Exercise 1
Compound Sentence Worksheet
Use FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to write one compound sentence using
the two simple sentences.
1. Peter drove to visit his friend. They went out for dinner.
2. Mary thinks she should go to school. She wants to get qualifications for a new
profession.
3. Alan invested a lot of money in the business. The business went bankrupt.
4. Doug didn't understand the homework assignment. He asked the teacher for
help.
5. The students didn't prepare for the test. They didn't realize how important the test
was.
6. Susan thinks she should stay home and relax. She also thinks she should go on
vacation.
7. The doctors looked at the x-rays. They decided to operate on the patient.
8. We went out on the town. We came home late.
9. Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle. He also wanted to visit the National
Museum.
10. It is raining. It is very cold.
11. Henry studied very hard for the test. He passed with high marks.

12. I would like to play tennis today. If I don't play tennis, I would like to play golf.
13. We needed some food for the week. We went to the supermarket.
14. Tom asked his teacher for help. He also asked his parents for help.
15. Janet doesn't like sushi. She doesn't like any kind of fish.
Answer
1. Peter drove to visit his friend, and they went out for dinner.
2. Mary thinks she should go to school, for she wants to get qualifications for a new
profession.
3. Alan invested a lot of money in the business, but the business went bankrupt.
4. Doug didn't understand the homework assignment, so he asked the teacher for
help.
5. The students didn't prepare for the test, nor did they realize how important the
test was.
6. Susan thinks she should stay home and relax, or she should go on vacation.
7. The doctors looked at the x-rays, so they decided to operate on the patient.
8. We went out on the town, and we came home late.
9. Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle, and to visit the National Museum.
10. It is sunny, but it is very cold.
11. Henry studied very hard for the test, so passed with high marks.
12. I would like to play tennis today, or I would like to play golf.
13. We needed some food for the week, so We went to the supermarket.
14. Tom asked his teacher for help, and he asked his parents.
15. Janet doesn't like sushi, nor does she like any kind of fish.
Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Method two:
This method may seem like a really easy way to combine two sentences; it is. In fact,
you can use a semicolon the way you would use a period. The only difference is that
with a semicolon, there should be an obvious connection between the two sentences. In
this method, you don’t have a coordinating conjunction to establish the relationship
between the two ideas; the connection must be so clear that it does not need to be
stated.
Exercise :
Practice with Semicolons
Here are some more sentences about critical thinking. The sentences have been fused
together; they are missing semicolons. Insert a semicolon where needed to create
correct compound sentences.
1. I don’t think my father will ever become a critical thinker he is resistant to change.
2. Do not let gossip pollute your workplace stand up to those who spread rumors.
3. Even the newspaper is biased I will pay attention to the way they present the facts.
4. My friends from high school label everybody I am tired of their prejudice.
5. I will raise my kids to be critical thinkers it won’t be easy.

6. I wrote a letter to The Sentinel I was angry at the way they stereotyped my race.
7. I am not always open to new information I find it hard to admit that I might be wrong.
Exercise:
Add to each sentence below with a semicolon and a sentence of your own.
1. My parents follow the Pope’s teachings____________________________________.
2. Susan does everything her boyfriend tells her ______________________________.
3. I don’t want to judge her _______________________________________________.
4. I used to think that my parents knew everything _____________________________.
5. I want to believe that our leaders are moral ________________________________.
6. Not everything you read on the Internet is true _____________________________.
7. That’s your point of view ______________________________________________.
Method Three:
Example: I am disgusted with your behavior; however, I will give you another chance.
This is a more formal way of combining two independent clauses. The formality is
created by the use of conjunctive adverbs. In the example above, however is the
conjunctive adverb. It means the same thing as the coordinating conjunction but. Many
of the coordinating conjunctions have corresponding conjunctive adverbs that work well
in writing for college, the workplace, and other formal occasions

Practice Using Conjunctive Adverbs
Complete the student letter below by filling in the blanks with conjunctive adverbs.
Dear Boss:
I have had enough of your unfair treatment; __________________, I have decided to
leave your employment. I am giving you my two weeks’ notice; __________________, I
will not return to work after February 8th. I am tempted to write to your superiors about
your behavior; ____________, I do not want to waste any more time thinking about you.
I will be back to pick up my final paycheck on February 9th; _______________, please
have my profit sharing bonus ready at that time.
Yours truly,

Post-test
Part I: Combine each of the following simple sentences into one compound sentence.
1. She didn't want to play with Jill. She didn't want to play with Tim.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. Arleen could not play with that boy. Arleen could not play with that other boy.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Let's go to the swimming pool. It's hot inside the house.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. I don’t want to eat. I don't want to drink.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. I don’t want to practice playing my violin. I don’t want to disobey my mother.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. I want to own my own company. I want to pay all my workers a lot of money.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. I need to go to the store. I'm feeling too sick to drive.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

8. Rabbits make good pets. They don’t make too much noise and they are clean.
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. I want to go to the circus. I want to ride a pony.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
10. I didn’t do my homework. My parents punished me.
________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
11. I have never visited Asia. I have never visited Africa.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. You can make a big poster. You can make a little clay statue.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
13. Peter drove to visit his friend. They went out for dinner.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
14. Mary thinks she should go to school. She wants to get qualifications for a new
profession.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

15. Alan invested a lot of money in the business. The business went bankrupt.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
16. Doug didn't understand the homework assignment. He asked the teacher for
help.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
17. The students didn't prepare for the test. They didn't realize how important the test
was.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
18. Susan thinks she should stay home and relax. She also thinks she should go on
vacation.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
19. The doctors looked at the x-rays. They decided to operate on the patient.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
20. We went out on the town. We came home late.
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

21. Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle. He also wanted to visit the National
Museum.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Part II. Identify the following sentences as Simple sentences (SS) or compound
sentences (CS).
1. The teacher walked into the classroom, greeted the students, and took
attendance.
2. Juan played football while Juanita went shopping.
3. Juan played football, yet Juanita went shopping.
4. The island was filled with many winding trails, a small lake, and dangerous wild
pigs.
5. We bought tickets to the hockey game.
6. We sat toward the center of the rink.
7. Hockey is a fast game and fans shriek with excitement.
8. he goalie on each team stays near the end of the rink.
9. Players obey the rules or they receive penalties.
10. Hockey is a popular sport in many countries around the world.
11. Hockey players move quickly or they miss a goal.
Part III. Directions: Circle the correct conjunction that completes each compound
sentence below.
1. Dan likes to race his car fast, (and / or / but) he should think about safety.
2. I knew exactly where I put my wallet, (and / or / but) I still couldn’t find it.
3. I love to draw, (and / or / but) my friend loves to design in art class.
4. We went to the hospital, (and / or / but) we found out it was closed early.

5. I have fifty dollars, (yet / and / so) I still can’t afford the new video game.
6. I didn’t study hard enough, (yet / and / so) I didn’t pass my latest exam.
7. I enjoyed the movie, (and / or / but) my little brother did not.
8. I can fish in the morning, (and / or / but) I can fish in the late evening.
9. She can run in the morning, (and/ or / but) I will jog in the morning.
10. You are a new student, (yet / and / so) you will have to learn the class routines.
11. You didn’t finish on time, (yet / and / so) you will have to come back tomorrow.
12. Do all your homework, (and / or / but) else you will fall behind.
13. Always respect your elders, (yet / and / so) that you may earn their trust.
THE END

Answer post test
Peter drove to visit his friend, and they went out for dinner.
-rays, so they decided to operate on the patient.
Museum