Examples of Compound Sentences
In English grammar, a compound sentence is a sentence that has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. Independent clauses are clauses that can stand on their own as sentences. Coordinating conjunctions are words that join independent clauses and indicate the relationship between them.
The most common coordinating conjunctions are:
- And – indicates addition
- Or – indicates an alternative
- But – indicates contrast
- Yet – indicates contrast
- So – indicates result
- Therefore – indicates result
- Consequently – indicates result
- However – indicates contrast
Here are some examples of compound sentences:
- I went to the store, and I bought some groceries.
- I want to go to the beach, or I want to stay home and watch a movie.
- I want to go to the beach, but I have to work.
- I want to go to the beach, yet I have to work.
- I went to the store, so I bought some groceries.
- I went to the store, therefore I bought some groceries.
- I went to the store, consequently I bought some groceries.
- I went to the store, however I did not buy any groceries.
Compound sentences can be used to express a variety of ideas. They can be used to add information, to provide alternatives, to show contrast, or to indicate a result.
Examples of Compound Sentences with Addition
Compound sentences with addition use the coordinating conjunction and to join two or more independent clauses that add information to each other.
Here are some examples of compound sentences with addition:
- I went to the store, and I bought some groceries.
- I like to read, and I also like to write.
- The sky is blue, and the grass is green.
- The sun is shining, and the birds are singing.
Examples of Compound Sentences with Alternatives
Compound sentences with alternatives use the coordinating conjunction or to join two or more independent clauses that present alternatives.
Here are some examples of compound sentences with alternatives:
- I want to go to the beach, or I want to stay home and watch a movie.
- You can either go to the park, or you can stay home and do your homework.
- Do you want to go to the mall, or do you want to go to the movies?
Examples of Compound Sentences with Contrast
Compound sentences with contrast use the coordinating conjunctions but, yet, or however to join two or more independent clauses that contrast with each other.
Here are some examples of compound sentences with contrast:
- I want to go to the beach, but I have to work.
- I like to read, yet I don’t have much time for it.
- The sky is blue, however it is cloudy today.
- The sun is shining, but it is cold outside.
Examples of Compound Sentences with Result
Compound sentences with result use the coordinating conjunctions so, therefore, or consequently to join two or more independent clauses that indicate a result.
Here are some examples of compound sentences with result:
- I went to the store, so I bought some groceries.
- I studied hard, therefore I did well on the test.
- The weather was bad, consequently we stayed home.
- I lost my job, so I had to find a new one.
- I got a raise, consequently I can afford to buy a new car.
Other Types of Compound Sentences
In addition to the types of compound sentences listed above, there are also a few other types that are less common.
- Compound-complex sentences are sentences that contain both independent clauses and dependent clauses.
- Cumulative sentences are sentences that contain two or more independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction without a comma.
- Disjunctive sentences are sentences that contain two or more independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and a comma.
