Compound Sentences
A complete ntence has one subject, one verb, and any necessary direct or indirect objects. To properly join two complete ntences you must u a comma and conjunction, a micolon, or a micolon with a conjunctive adverb.
阳光的作文● There are three common mistakes people make when combining ntences:
1) It is incorrect to combine two complete ntences with only a
conjunction. This creates a run-on ntence.
○ Incorrect: Sue was late to class and the teacher was upt.
○ This example is incorrect becau “Sue was late to class” and “the
teacher was upt” are two complete ntences combined with nothing more
than a conjunction (and).
○ To correct this ntence , add a comma before the conjunction: “Sue
was late to class , and the teacher was upt.”
2) It is incorrect to combine two complete ntences with only a comma. This
creates a comma splice .
○ Incorrect: Sue arrived late, the teacher punished her.
○ This example is incorrect becau “Sue arrived late” and “the teacher
punished her” are two complete ntences combined with nothing more than a
comma.
○ To correct this ntence, add a conjunction after the comma: “Sue
arrived late, so the teacher punished her.” Alternatively, replace the comma with
a micolon: “Sue arrived late ; the teacher punished her.”
3) It is incorrect to join two complete ntences with no punctuation or conjunction. This creates a fud ntence .
○ Incorrect: Sue ran into the classroom out of breath she was very late.
○ This example is incorrect becau “Sue ran into the classroom out of
breath” and “she was very late” are two complete ntences combined with
nothing.
○ To correct this ntence, add a comma and conjunction after the first
ntence: “Sue ran in to the classroom out of breath , for she was very late.”
Alternatively, add a micolon after the first ntence: “Sue ran into the
classroom out of breath ; she was very late.”
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Handout created by Haley D. Anderson
Combining Sentences Using Commas and Conjunctions
● Commas can be ud with a conjunction to join two complete ntences and create a compound ntence.
英语晚安● To combine ntences this way, u the comma after the first complete ntence, then follow it
with a suitable conjunction.
● There are ven conjunctions t hat can be ud with the comma: and, but, yet, if, or, nor, for.
● Exerci A - Correct the ntences using commas and/or conjunctions where appropriate.
Indicate whether the ntence was a run-on, comma splice, or fud ntence.1
1) Betsy is a very thoughtless girl, her brother always complains about her.
水下摄影2) The dog barked all night it was very irritating.
3) The tree fell on the hou and the roof caved in.
4) It was summer the playground was empty.
美玉天成日记90字5) My boyfriend made me very upt, I cried all night.
6) Christine fought long and hard but at last the dia overpowered her.
Combining Sentences Using Semicolons
●Semicolons can be ud to join two complete ntences in two ways:
1) Without a conjunction or connecting word
○ Incorrect: Whenever it rains; I feel depresd
○ Correct: The painting was very pretty; it was destroyed in the war.
○ The fir st example is incorrect becau the first part of the ntence is not a
complete ntence.
○ The cond example is correct becau both parts are complete ntences, so they
can be connected with a micolon.
2) Using a conjunctive adverb followed by a comma, such as therefore, moreover,
furthermore, accordingly, nevertheless, however, etc.
○ Incorrect: The painting was very pretty; but it was destroyed in the war.
○ Correct: The painting was very pretty; however, it was destroyed in the war.
○ The first example is incorrect becau the connecting word being ud is a simple
conjunction, not a conjunctive adverb.
○ The cond example is correct becau the micolon is followed by a conjunctive
关于大熊猫的资料adverb (however) and a comma.
● Exerci B - Correct the ntences using micolons where appropriate. If a conjunctive
adverb was ud put in a comma where needed as well. Indicate whether the
杨开凤ntence was a run-on, comma splice, or fud ntence.2
1)Tim had a great desire to learn Spanish therefore he enrolled in a language school.
2)The farmers argued over who owned the field, the judge had to decide the ca in the
end.
3)The wind blew hard that night the cattle got loo when the fence collapd.
4)The marathon was not a long one however Jes did not account for the bad weather.
1 Answers to Exerci A: 1) conjunction after the comma, comma splice 2) comma and conjunction after night, fud 3) comma after hou, run-on 4) comma and conjunction after summer, fud 5) conjunction after the comma, comma splice 6) comma after hard, run-on小明同学
2 Answers to Exerci B: 1) micolon after Spanish, comma after therefore, run-on 2) replace comma with a micolon, comma splice 3) micolon after night, fud 4) micolon after one, comma after however, run-on
