Compound Sentence = 2 or more Independent Clauses joined by either a comma/coordinating conjunction or a semi colon.
Coordinating Conjunctions: Think, “FAN BOYS.”
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
--In identifying Compound Sentences, you will continue identifying Subjects and Verbs. You should be paying attention to the formulas and patterns regulating Simple Sentences. However, you’re looking for Coordinating Conjunctions and Semi Colons CONNECTING Independent Clauses.
Examples: Compound Sentence—The announcements will run all day, but no one reads them.
Pattern: SV ,but SV (Announcements will run, but no one reads)
The sentence is compound because 2 independent clauses are joined by acomma/conjunction.
Simple Sentence—We will read announcements but ignore their content.
Pattern: SVV
Even though this sentence has the coordinating conjunction “but”, it is simple because “but” is NOT joining 2 independent clauses. It’s joining two verbs. This is the trickiest part if you’re not paying attention.
The following sentences are all compound. Circle the subjects and underline the verbs. Also, box the coordinating conjunction or semi colon that LINKS the independent clauses.
1. The kids are in school, and many look extremely bored.
2. Little Billy tries to do his best, but the work just gets harder and harder.
3. In the morning he drinks his juice, eats his toast, and brushes his teeth, but nothing helps.
4. One time at band camp, a girl tried to help him with some lessons, but he freaked out.
5. He couldn’t remember her name; she got angry.
6. Little Billy tried telling his parents about little Suzy, but his dad couldn’t hear him.
7. Billy’s father had always bragged about Billy at work, but now shame would take over.
8. Billy couldn’t live with that guilt, so he dedicated himself to being better with names.
9. Little Suzy saw Billy at school; she couldn’t believe it!
10. He’d cut his hair, bought new clothes, and trimmed his nails, but something else was different.
11. She waited until band class to make her move and ask him out, but, even then, she was afraid.
12. Little Suzy had only loved one guy before, and he left her after the prom.
13. She was willing to confront Billy, yet something held her back.
14. She decided to bake him an apple pie, for she heard that it was his favorite.
15. She arrived early for class the next day and waited for him to sit down, but he never showed.
16. Suzy gave the pie to the drummer, and he smiled thankfully.
17. The drummer loved hot, apple pie, and he couldn’t wait to eat it.
18. That pie was delicious; Suzy could bake with the best of them.
19. The drummer never forgot that amazing pie, and he even asked Suzy on a date.
20. The drummer and Suzy lived happily ever after; Billy was forever jealous.
Read the following sentences and identify all of the subjects and verbs. Circle subjects and underline verbs. Box comma/conjunctions or semi-colons combing two independent clauses. Identify each sentence as either simple or compound and write your answer in the space provided at the end of the sentence.
21. Cold, cloudy days sometimes make people sad, but help is on the way. ______
22. A man wearing pajamas and a red cape is arriving to bring smiles to your faces. ______
23. You can choose to judge this man, but you’d be defeating the purpose. ______
24. He’s a bit strange, but you’re in no danger; it’s better than pouting all day. ______
25. His name is Neil, and he loves dressing up in his suit and entertaining people. ______
26. Sometimes he works for free, so the local merchants welcome him to their entrances. ______
27. Neil used to live in Kansas, but the police moved him to the border. ______
28. Now he calls Muskegon home, and he travels around Michigan making balloon puppets. _____
29. Neil eats McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s every day. ______
30. This puts stress on his special entertainment suit. ______
31. His landlord, his mother, tries to get him to eat healthy, but there’s no use. ______
32. Neil can’t resist those delicious deep-fried treats and tasty shakes. ______
33. The manager of the local Wendy’s sees Neil coming and immediately drops new fries. ______
34. She knows that a large man in a blue suit can only mean one thing—a large Frosty. ______
35. One time Neil forgot his wallet at home, so the manager gave him his food for free. ______
36. Neil re-paid her by standing next to the road holding a Wendy’s sign. ______
37. Wendy’s saw a 47% jump in customers that day. ______
38. The manager told her boss about Neil; he tried to hire him for commercials. ______
39. Neil turned him down for fear of having his busy lifestyle cramped. ______
40. Neil got into his 1985 Cadillac Eldorado and drove away satisfied. ______
41. Neil loves his car because of the extra room for his costumes. ______
42. Neil’s mom begs him to buy a new car, but he can’t bring himself to part with such a treasure. _
43. He won the car as a grand prize in a raffle years ago. ______
44. Tickets were only $5.00, so the car was a real bargain. ______
45. At first people teased Neil about the size and color of the car. ______
46. His blue costume and red cape seemed to blend in with the vehicle. ______
47. Officer Rodriguez didn’t seem to care about any of that. ______
48. The officer told Neil to slow down and be more observant of others on the road. ______
49. Neil smiled and wished the officer a fine afternoon. ______
50. Neil makes everyone smile, and Officer Rodriguez is proof of that. ______