3.5: Working with Language- Compound Sentences

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If you only write in simple sentences, your writing may well be correct, but it will not flow well. Using compound sentences helps your writing to flow and to sound more polished.

What Is a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence contains two clauses. These are joined in the middle by a coordinating conjunction. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, so, or, yet, for, and nor. The first four are by far the most common; the other three are less often used. Look at these sentences. Here, the subjects are bold, the predicates are underlined, and the conjunctions are in boxes.

Jessica enjoys her work, and she makes more money than before.
Carly’s father is a plumber, but Carly did not want to follow in his footsteps.
Roxanne was laid off, so she looked for a different job.
You could collect unemployment benefits, or you could go back to college.

Even when the two subjects are the same person (e.g., Jessica, she), it makes no difference; as soon as we see a subject and verb, we know we have a second clause.

A Frequently Asked Question

Can I begin a sentence with And? Can I write this?

Jessica enjoys her work. And she makes more money than before.

It is very common in informal writing to begin a sentence with And. You will often use this in emails, texts, Facebook updates, and so on. In writing for college, though, it is best to avoid it. Use and as a conjunction between two clauses. A better use of and is as follows:

Jessica enjoys her work, and she makes more money than before.

You Try It!

Combine the simple sentences below to make one compound sentence.

Jessica didn’t like her minimum-wage job. She could barely pay her rent.

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Hayley could have ended up on the streets. She could have gone to jail.

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She wanted to turn her life around. She didn’t want to study in a classroom.

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The Balmer North tragedy killed 15 miners. Another ten were seriously injured.

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5. The town only had one ambulance. Miners were taken to the hospital in private cars.

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6. Coal is mined in B.C. Gold and silver are also mined.

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Young workers are vulnerable. Workers under 18 are not allowed to work in a mine.

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You cannot come to work at a mine if you have drunk alcohol. You will be sent home.

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Mine safely is taken seriously. Regulations are updated regularly.

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The price of gold has stabilized. The future is promising for Canadian mining.

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