Identifying Verbs and Adverbs s4

PUNCTUATING THE CO-ORDINATING CONJUNCTION IN

SIMPLE COMPOUND SENTENCES

In this module, you will learn to use
· Comma punctuation with co-ordinating conjunctions
· Semicolon punctuation with co-ordinating conjunctions
· Semicolon punctuation without conjunctions.

Introduction

Using the co-ordinating conjunction, we are going to punctuate independent clauses in simple compound sentences--sentences containing two independent clauses. We'll look at a rule and at a variation of that rule; then we'll look at joining independent clauses without using any conjunctions.

The seven co-ordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, or, nor, yet, and so.

Punctuation

We use co-ordinating conjunctions to join ideas of equal value--co-ordinate ideas.

Co-ordinating Conjunction Rule

When using a co-ordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses, place a comma before the conjunction.

Insert the required punctuation into the following sentences. If no punctuation is required, consider the sentence to be one independent clause.

Sentence:

"I did my homework last night but I forgot to bring it to school."

1. Identify the first clause.

We identify "I did my homework last night."

2. Label that clause as dep (dependent) or indep (independent).

The clause does not start with a subordinating conjunction, so the clause is independent.

3. We label the clause indep.

The sentence now looks like this:

Indep

I did my homework last night but I forgot to bring it to school.

4. Identify the second clause.

We identify "but I forgot to bring it to school."

5. Label that clause as dep or indep.

The clause does not start with a subordinating conjunction, so the clause is independent.

We label the clause indep.

The sentence now looks like this:

Indep Indep

"I did my homework last night but I forgot to bring it to school."

We have a punctuation problem involving independent clauses. We recognize that the two independent clauses are joined with a co-ordinating conjunction. So we apply the co-ordinating conjunction punctuation rule.

"I did my homework last night , but I forgot to bring it to school."

As we can see, the pattern for the above sentence is

Independent , co-ordinating conjunction independent.

Another Sentence:

"The ambulance raced down the street and stopped just in time."

We identify "raced" and "stopped" as verbs and "ambulance" as the lone subject. The conjunction "and" joins two verbs not two clauses. We have one independent clause with a compound verb.

The pattern for the above sentence is

Independent clause (no punctuation required).

So ensure you actually have two clauses before you start punctuating co-ordinating conjunctions.

Co-ordinating Conjunction Exception

If either independent clause contains two or more commas or if the clauses are very long, change the comma in front of the co-ordinating conjunction into a semicolon.

Sentence:

"Sometimes, natural, unfiltered light is sufficient but artificial light is a good supplement."

We have a punctuation problem involving independent clauses. We recognize the co-ordinating conjunction "but." So we apply the co-ordinating conjunction punctuation rule.

The sentence now looks like this:

Indep Indep

Sometimes, natural, unfiltered light is sufficient , but artificial light is a good supplement.

We find two commas in the first clause. So we change the comma in front of "but" into a semicolon.

Sometimes, natural, unfiltered light is sufficient ; but artificial light is a good supplement.

The pattern for the above sentence is

independent ; co-ordinating conjunction independent.

There are times when we wish to connect equal ideas and yet show a very casual--a very limited--relationship. To show this kind of casual relationship, we use the bare semicolon.

The Bare Semicolon Rule

To join two independent clauses without using a conjunction, use a semicolon alone as punctuation. Here's an example:

Clauses:

"the sun slowly lightens the eastern sky the sheep stir sleepily"

We show this casual relationship by punctuating as follows:

The sun slowly lightens the eastern sky ; the sheep stir sleepily.

The pattern for the above sentence is

independent ; independent.

Technical and business writers use this bare semicolon punctuation sparingly. We use it sparingly because in technical writing when we join two independent clauses, we generally want to show a definite relationship between the two ideas.

Review

When using a co-ordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses, place a comma before the conjunction.

If either independent clause contains two or more commas or if the clauses are very long, change the comma in front of the co-ordinating conjunction into a semicolon.

To join two independent clauses without using a conjunction, use a semicolon alone as punctuation.

Exercises

For the first nine questions, select the answer that shows the clause structure and the comma/semicolon punctuation required for the sentence. The answers appear after the last question.

1. The bus first veered around the corner and then the bus careened against the guard rail.

A. Independent clause (no additional punctuation required)

B. Independent ; independent

C. Independent , co-ordinating conjunction independent