Grammar sometimes gets a bad reputation as a series of dull rules you must learn and follow. We’re here to challenge that outlook and explore how grammar helps you capture the relationship between ideas and become a more elegant communicator.
In this article, we’ll discover what compound sentences are and how to use them to add clarity and color to your writing. So, if you’re ready to craft excellent texts and level up your English skills, read on to learn more.
The basics of sentence structure
Before we dive into what a compound sentence is, it’s essential to understand the basic sentence structures in English. We’ll give you a brief overview of the four main types: simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences.
Simple sentences: The simple sentence is the most basic type of sentence. It consists of a single independent clause that expresses a complete thought. Simple sentences contain a subject (noun or pronoun) and a predicate (verb).
Example: “She walked to the park.”
Compound sentences: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined together by coordinating conjunctions (“and,” “but,” “so,” etc.) or appropriate punctuation marks. Each independent clause in a compound sentence could stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: “She walked to the park, and he rode his bike.”
Complex sentences: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences; they rely on the independent clause for context and meaning.
Example: “She walked to the park while he rode his bike.”
Compound-complex sentences: A compound-complex sentence combines a compound sentence and a complex sentence. It contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Example: “She walked to the park while he rode his bike, and they both enjoyed the beautiful weather.”
The ultimate guide to compound sentences
Now that you know the four basic sentence types in English, we can fully explore compound sentences and ensure you feel confident crafting them and understanding the subtle meanings that lie within them.
Understanding compound sentences
Earlier, we saw that compound sentences consist of two clauses that could stand alone as independent sentences. So, why do we connect these two sentences with coordinating conjunctions?
The answer is simple. Compound sentences highlight a relationship between two simple sentences. Depending on the coordinating conjunction you use, you can express subtle ideas that go beyond the words you use.
Let’s consider the following two sentences:
- “Anna was happy today.”
- “Anna wrote a poem.”
When we look at these sentences separately, their relationship is unclear. Let’s see how we can express different relationships between the sentences by turning them into compound sentences with various coordinating conjunctions.
Example: “Anna was happy today, but she wrote a poem.”
The conjunction “but” expresses a contrast between two ideas. The reader might assume that Anna usually writes poems when she is sad, so it’s surprising that she wrote a poem today when she was happy.
Example: “Anna was happy today, so she wrote a poem.”
The conjunction “so” is used to give a reason for something. This means the sentence above suggests that Anna usually writes poems when she’s happy, and this is why she wrote one today.
Example: “Anna was happy today, and she wrote a poem.”
The conjunction “and” is used to add extra information, so this sentence doesn’t explicitly tell us how the two clauses are related – simply that they are related. Maybe the writer wants the reader to speculate. Is Anna’s poem about the source of her happiness? Does Anna usually write poetry when she is happy?
Using different coordinating conjunctions
The section above shows how crafting compound sentences can highlight relationships between ideas and add meaning to our writing easily and elegantly. Let’s consider more compound sentence examples showing all seven coordinating conjunctions in action.
| Coordinating conjunction | Purpose | Example |
| So | Indicating a result or consequence | She was hungry, so she bought some food. |
| And | Adding information or combining similar ideas | Amy lives in France, and she likes the Eiffel Tower. |
| Nor | Expressing the negative version of “or” | He doesn’t enjoy eating meat, nor does he enjoy eating fish. |
| But | Introducing a contrast or contradiction | He enjoys eating meat, but he doesn’t enjoy eating fish. |
| Or | Presenting a choice between alternatives | We can listen to blues music, or we can listen to jazz. |
| Yet | Introducing a contrasting or surprising element to a sentence | It was a sunny day, yet it was very cold. |
| For | Providing a reason or explanation | He ordered food, for he was hungry. |
The punctuation and formatting of compound sentences
When creating compound sentences, you can influence how people understand them using different punctuation. We’ll guide you through how to punctuate compound sentences correctly and in the way that best captures what you want to express.
When to use a comma
When creating a standard compound sentence, the comma should always come at the end of the first clause and just before the second one. For example, “I like compound sentences, and I know how to write them correctly.”
Adding elegance with a semicolon
By using a semicolon instead of a coordinating conjunction, you can create a different stylistic effect with your compound sentences. This is an excellent way to show that two sentences are closely related without explicitly saying how.
For example, “I wanted to go to the party; I had been working all week.” This compound sentence doesn’t explicitly explain the relationship between the two sentences, but the reader assumes the person wants to go to the party because it’s a nice contrast to their long week of work.
Adding emphasis with an em dash
You can also use an em dash to form compound sentences; this is an excellent way to emphasize the second clause or express a sudden shift in thought. For example, “I wanted to go to the party—I had been looking forward to it all week.”
Avoiding run-on sentences
A run-on sentence happens when you write compound sentences without the proper punctuation or coordinating conjunctions. The result is typically a long and complex series of clauses, which makes it difficult for the reader to understand the relationship between them.
For example, “I woke up late this morning I missed the bus to work.” The writer could quickly fix this confusing compound sentence by adding a comma after “morning” and using the coordinating conjunction “and”: “I woke up late this morning, and I missed the bus to work.”
We’ve put together a checklist to ensure that your compound sentences are correct and easy to understand:
- Check your punctuation
Always separate clauses in your compound sentences with a comma and coordinating conjunctions, or use a semicolon or an em dash.
- Choose the right conjunction
Ensure you use the conjunction that correctly expresses the relationship between the two clauses.
- Avoid overly long sentences
The more clauses you include in your compound sentence the more work the reader must do to understand the relationship between the ideas.
- Review and revise your work
Read your sentence aloud after writing it. This is an excellent way to ensure it sounds natural and is easy to understand.
Tips for writing effective compound sentences
Ready to upgrade your writing by crafting some compound sentences of your own? Here are some helpful tips to get you started.
Start simple
Begin by connecting basic clauses that have a clear relationship. For example, “I like sandwiches, and I like burgers.”
Express complete thoughts
Read the clauses in your compound sentences individually to ensure each could be a standalone sentence.
Vary your sentence length
Balance short and long sentences to keep your reader engaged. For example, “Alex was a happy man who always smiled radiantly, but today he was furious.”
Read aloud
The best way to check if your compound sentence flows nicely is by reading it aloud. You can even record your sentences and listen to them.
Seek feedback
Ask a friend who speaks English to check your work or enlist the help of an English tutor who can give you excellent constructive feedback on your writing.
Where do people use compound sentences?
You’ll find examples of compound sentences in almost every type of writing, but some styles use them more than others. We’ll explore some areas where you’ll likely encounter many compound sentences.
Literature
Authors use compound sentences to affect their readers in specific ways. Rather than expressing a series of individual ideas, compound sentences let writers use one idea to add meaning to another in a subtle and powerful way.
For example, the compound sentence “James was walking in the woods, and it was very dark” creates a greater sense of mystery and danger than the two clauses would individually.
Academic writing
Academic writing typically involves capturing complex ideas and relationships, making compound sentences essential. You’ll encounter plenty of excellent examples of compound sentences in academic texts.
Business writing and public speaking
Companies and employees use compound sentences to express ideas and affect their audience in the way they wish. Although it’s harder to identify compound sentences when heard aloud, they’re used frequently in speech and writing.
Conclusion
Grammar can seem intimidating when considered out of context, but hopefully, you’ve seen that these structures are simply helpful ways to express yourself and add some color to your writing and speech.
We’ve considered what a compound sentence is and how you can create one correctly, alongside plenty of examples formed with different coordinating conjunctions. The only thing left to do is write some yourself!
Once you get the hang of compound sentences, check out our many other grammar articles covering helpful topics like English prepositions and contractions in English. If you’re serious about mastering English, it may also be time to find online classes.
We’ve compiled a list of the best online English courses to help you continue your journey, or you can jump into a trial lesson to experience learning with a top-quality private English tutor. Simply use filters to add your budget and schedule, find a tutor who interests you, and start making excellent progress every week.
