Compound Sentences

All the sentences we have studied thus far have consisted of only one clause. A sentence with only one clause is called a simple sentence.

However, just as subjects, objects, and complements can be compounded (joined together), we can also connect entire clauses using the conjunction "and." The result is a compound sentence.

Here are some examples of compound sentences.

• Bill ate pizza, and Judy drank soda.
• Fred picked the movie, and Katie made popcorn. 
• Robert is a student, and Mary is a teacher.
• Dennis washed the dishes, and Toshi swept the floor.

simple sentence = a sentence consisting of only one clause. compound sentence = a sentence consisting of two or more (independent) clauses.

 

Study the following sentences. Each clause is highlighted in a different color.

	Sentence
1	The boys walked down the road, and their parents waved from the house.	compound
2	His goal is unrealistic.	simple
3	John bought some new shoes, and he wore them to a party.	compound
4	The whole group apologized.	simple
5	We went to the movie theater last night, and then we went to dinner at the local steakhouse.	compound
6	Father plays the piano, and Susan plays the guitar.	compound
7	My wife is also my best friend.	simple
8	Thoughtful neighbors and friends of the family sent bouquets to the funeral.	simple
9	My family went to the park yesterday, and we had a wonderful time.	compound
10	Stella cooked dinner, and she also washed the dishes.	compound

 

Instructions for the Quiz

Determine the type of sentence.

Example:

1. After twenty years, he still had feelings for her. simple compound hybrid complex compound-complex

 

If the sentence has only one clause, the answer is (A) simple sentence.

If the sentence has more than one clause, the answer is (B) compound sentence.

In the example (above), the answer is (A), because the sentence has only one clause.

Big Hint:

The answer will never be C, D, or E, because we have not yet studied these sentence patterns.

Quiz