Let's Speak English: Compound Sentences

Compound Sentences - What are They?
Compound= make by adding two or more parts.
Compound=ทำโดยการเชื่อมต่อสองหรือมากกว่าชิ้นส่วน

Compound sentences are two simple sentences put together to make one compound sentence.

from 2 --- make 1

A compound sentence is made from 2 simple sentences connected สัมพันธ์กัน by a conjunction to make 1 compound sentence. These conjunctions are also known as FANBOYS:

F - For
A - And
N - Nor
B - But
O - Or
Y - Yet
S – So

Here are some example compound sentences:

Tom arrived home. Then, he ate dinner. (two simple sentences)

Tom arrived home, and then he ate dinner. (one compound sentence)

We studied many hours for the test. We didn't pass the test. (two simple sentences)

We studied many hours for the test, but we didn't pass it. (one compound sentence)

Peter doesn't need to buy a new car. He also doesn't need to go on vacation. (two simple sentences)

Peter doesn't need to buy a new car, nor does he need to go on vacation. (one compound sentence)

(see that using nor connects two negative statements, and the subject and the helping verb are reversed in order.)

another example:

I don’t want a hamburger. I don’t want a cheeseburger.

I don’t want a hamburger, not do I want a cheeseburger.

(I do not is changed, inverted, to read do I want)

Conjunctions Used in Compound Sentences

The Conjunctions are used for different purposes in sentences. A comma is often placed before the conjunction. Here are the main uses of the "FANBOYS" conjunctions:

Addition / Next Action

and

addition -- Tom enjoys playing tennis, and he likes cooking.

next action -- We drove home, and we went to bed.

Opposition - Unexpected Results

but / yet

We wanted to visit our friends, but we didn't have enough money to get a flight.

Janet did very well on her job interview, yet she didn't get the position.

Cause / Effect

for / because / so

cause -- Mary needed some new clothing, so she went shopping.

effect -- They stayed home for the holiday, for they had to work.

effect -- They stayed home for the holiday, because they had to work.

A Choice Between Two things

We thought we might go to see a film. We thought might have dinner out.

We thought we might go to see a film, or we might have dinner out.

Angela said she might buy him a watch, or she might give him a gift certificate.

Angela said she might buy him a watch, or give him a gift certificate.

Not one nor the other

nor

We will not be able to visit our friends this summer. Our friends will not be able to visit us this summer.

(subjects, yellow, verb and helping verbs, blue, predicate, green.)

We won't be able to visit our friends this summer, nor will they be able to visit us.

Sharon isn't going to the conference, nor is she going to present there.

NOTE: Notice how when using 'nor' the sentence structure is inverted. In other words, after 'nor' place the helping verb (do, does, are, is, am) before the subject.

Compound Sentence Worksheet

Use FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to write one compound sentence using the two simple sentences.

· Peter drove to visit his friend. They went out for dinner.

· Peter drove to visit his friend, and they went out for dinner.

· Mary thinks she should go to school. She wants to get qualifications for a new profession.

· Mary thinks she should go to school, because wants to get qualifications for a new profession.

· Alan invested a lot of money in the business. The business went bankrupt.

· Alan invested a lot of money in the business, but the business went bankrupt.

· Doug didn't understand the homework assignment. He asked the teacher for help.

· Doug didn't understand the homework assignment, so asked the teacher for help.

· The students didn't prepare for the test. They didn't realize how important the test was.

· The students didn't prepare for the test, because they didn't realize how important the test was.

· Susan thinks she should stay home and relax. She also thinks she should go on vacation.

· Susan thinks she should stay home and relax, or she thinks she should go on vacation.

· The doctors looked at the x-rays. They decided to operate on the patient.

· The doctors looked at the x-rays, and they decided to operate on the patient.

· other possible answers: The doctors looked at the x-rays and saw a problem, so they decided to operate on the patient.

· The doctors decided to operate, because they looked at the x-rays and saw a problem.

· We went out on the town. We came home late.

· We went out on the town and we came home late.

· We went out on the town, so we came home late.

or…

· We came home late, because we had gone out on the town.

· Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle. He also wanted to visit the National Museum.

· Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle, and he also wanted to visit the National Museum.

· It is raining. It is very cold.

· It is raining, and it is very cold.

The rain in Southeast Asia is cool. The rain in America can be very cold.

The rain in Southeast Asia is cool, but the rain in America can be very cold.

· It is raining. It is very cold.

· It is raining, and it is very cold.

· Henry studied very hard for the test. He passed with high marks.

· Henry studied very hard for the test, so he passed with high marks.

· I would like to play tennis today. If I don't play tennis, I would like to play golf.

· I would like to play tennis today, or if I don't play tennis, I would like to play golf.

· We needed some food for the week. We went to the supermarket.

· We needed some food for the week so we went to the supermarket.

We went to the supermarket. We needed some food for the week.

We went to the supermarket, because we needed some food for the week.

Try to answer these two yourself:

Send me the answers in a comment, please.

· Tom asked his teacher for help. He also asked his parents for help.

· Janet doesn't like sushi. She doesn't like any kind of fish.

ANSWERS:

· Peter drove to visit his friend, and they went out for dinner.

· Mary thinks she should go to school, for she wants to get qualifications for a new profession.

· Alan invested a lot of money in the business, but the business went bankrupt.

· Doug didn't understand the homework assignment, so he asked the teacher for help.

· The students didn't prepare for the test, nor did they realize how important the test was.

· Susan thinks she should stay home and relax, or she should go on vacation.

· The doctors looked at the x-rays, so they decided to operate on the patient.

· We went out on the town, and we came home late.

· Jack flew to London to visit his Uncle, and to visit the National Museum.

· It is sunny, but it is very cold.

· Henry studied very hard for the test, so passed with high marks.

· I would like to play tennis today, or I would like to play golf.

· We needed some food for the week, so we went to the supermarket.

· Tom asked his teacher for help, and he asked his parents.

· Janet doesn't like sushi, nor does she like any kind of fish.

There are other variations that are possible than those provided in the answers. Ask your teacher for other ways to connect these to write compound sentences.

Homework:
write two or more sentences using each of the following coordinating conjunctions.

First, write two simple sentences, then combine the two with a conjunction to make one compound sentence.

F - For ( and Because )
A – And
N – Nor
B - But
O - Or
Y - Yet
S – So

and Addition / Next Action

but / yet Opposition - Unexpected Results

for / because / so Cause / Effect

or. A Choice Between Two things

nor Not one nor the other

I will post this on my English teaching Blog at:

teacher-phil@blogspot.com

Compound Sentences - What are They?

Compound sentences are made up of two simple sentences connected by a coordinating conjunction. These conjunctions are also known as FANBOYS:

F - For
A - And
N - Nor
B - But
O - Or
Y - Yet
S – So

In the compound sentence, the two parts are called independent clauses.

Here are some example compound sentences:

Tom arrived home. Then, he ate dinner. ->

Tom arrived home, and then he ate dinner.

We studied many hours for the test. We didn't pass the test. ->

We studied many hours for the test, but we didn't pass it.

Peter doesn't need to buy a new car. He also doesn't need to go on vacation. ->

Peter doesn't need to buy a new car, nor does he need to go on vacation.

(please notice that using nor connects two negative statements, and note that the subject and the helping verb are reversed in order.)

another example:

I don’t want a hamburger. I don’t want a cheeseburger.

I don’t want a hamburger, not do I want a cheeseburger.

Conjunctions Used in Compound Sentences

Conjunctions are used for different purposes in sentences. A comma is always placed before the conjunction. Here are the main uses of the FANBOYS:

Addition / Next Action

and

addition -> Tom enjoys playing tennis, and he likes cooking.

next action -> We drove home, and we went to bed.

Opposition - Unexpected Results

but / yet

We wanted to visit our friends, but we didn't have enough money to get a flight.

Janet did very well on her job interview, yet she didn't get the position.

Cause / Effect

for / because / so

cause -> Mary needed some new clothing, so she went shopping.

effect -> They stayed home for the holiday, for they had to work.

(or--- > They stayed home for the holiday, because they had to work.

A Choice Between Two things

We thought we might go to see a film. We thought might have dinner out.

We thought we might go to see a film, or we might have dinner out.

Angela said she might buy him a watch, or she might give him a gift certificate.

Angela said she might buy him a watch, or give him a gift certificate.

Not one nor the other

nor

We will not be able to visit our friends this summer. Our friends will not be able to visit us this summer.

We won't be able to visit our friends this summer, nor will they be able to visit us.

Sharon isn't going to the conference, nor is she going to present there.

NOTE: Notice how when using 'nor' the sentence structure is inverted. In other words, after 'nor' place the helping verb before the subject.