What is a Compound Sentence?

The sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions is called a ‘compound sentence’.

Compound Sentence examples

Look at the following sentences:

(i) I can speak English but I cannot speak Hindi.

(ii) Sidharth worked hard and got a first division.

Explanation of Compound Sentence

In (i), we have two independent clauses.

(a) I can speak English, (b) I cannot speak Hindi.

Similarly, In (ii), we have also two independent clauses.

(a) Sidharth worked hard, (b) (he) got a first division. These independent clauses have been joined by ‘but’ in (i) and by ‘and’ in (ii). Independent clauses joined by the conjunctions such as and, but, etc. are called coordinate clauses and the conjunctions which join them are called coordinators or coordinate conjunctions.

Sentences in which two or more independent clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions are called ‘compound sentences’.

More examples of compound sentences with coordinators

 Let’s look at some more examples of compound sentences:

Coordinators                                     Compound sentences

1. AND …………………………….           The postman came and (he) delivered the letter.

2. But ……………………………               He tried to open the door but the door was locked.

3. Yet ……………………………               He is not rich yet he is happy.

4. Still ……………………………               He rebuked me, still, I was not angry.

5. Nevertheless/Notwithstanding. I am ill with fever nevertheless I shall sit for the examination.

6. Or ……………………………                 You may stay here or go home.

7. Otherwise ……………………………  Work hard, otherwise, you will fail.

8. So ……………………………                 I was tired, so I went to bed early.

9. Therefore ……………………………  It rained heavily, therefore I could not go out.

10. For …………………………… He couldn’t speak, for he was overcome with grief.

11. Either …or …………………………… Either he is mad, or he feigns madness.

12. Neither …nor …………………………… I neither drink tea nor smoke cigarettes.

13. Not only…but also … ……………… She not only sings melodiously but also dances well.

14. Both …and  …………………………… Minakshi can both sing and dance. (Not used in negative sentences)

Correlative Conjunctions

[Note:- ‘Either…or’, ‘Neither …nor’, ‘not only….but also’, ‘Both…and’ are called correlative conjunctions as they form a ‘pair’ and are related to each other].

Correlatives join the same type of parts of speech.

(i) He not only gave me money but also allowed me shelter. (Correct)

(ii) He gave me not only money but also allowed me shelter. (Incorrect)

In sentence (i), ‘ not only’ is followed by the verb ‘gave’ and ‘but also’ is followed by the verb ‘allowed’. So this sentence is grammatical and acceptable.

But in the sentence (ii), ‘not only’ is followed by the noun ‘money’ and ‘ but also’ is followed by the verb ‘allowed’. So this sentence is ungrammatical and unacceptable.

Look at the following sentences:

(i) He took his meal and went to school.

In this sentence ‘he’ is the subject in both the clauses. So the subject ‘he’ is dropped in the second clause.

(ii) They are sitting and talking about politics.

If we break this sentence into clauses, we find.

(a) They are sitting

(b) And they are talking about politics.

Here the subject ‘they’ and the auxiliary ‘are’, are common in both clauses. So here in the compound sentences both the ‘subject’ and the ‘auxiliary’ are dropped in the second clause.

Compound Sentence EXERCISE

EXERCISE-1

Combine each pair of sentences into a compound sentence. Use one of the co-ordinating conjunctions and, but, or, so, yet, for, otherwise.

1. He shot an arrow at the deer. The deer escaped.
2. They insulted him. He was not angry.
3. She could not speak. She was overcome by grief.
4. He must work hard. He will fail.
5. You may write the essay now. You may write the essay after an hour.
6. He entered the room. He shut the door.
7. It was going to rain. He took an umbrella.
8. The knife is not sharp. It doesn’t cut well.
9. This curry smells nice. It doesn’t taste good.
10. You can fly. You can go by bus.

Execercise-3

Combine each pair of sentences into a compound sentence. Use one of the correlatives: ‘either..or’, ‘neither…nor’, ‘not only…but also’, ‘both…and’,

1. You may visit the zoo on Sunday. You may go out for a walk on Sunday.
2. He gave us a good dinner. He also drove us back home.
3. He is watching TV. He is listening to the radio.
4. She draws pictures neatly. She also paints them beautifully.
5. The soldiers captured the city. They also destroyed it.
6. He is not smart. He is not clever.
7. Mr. Rath doesn’t win a car. He doesn’t want to have one.
8. The lady was beautiful. The lady was respectable.
9. Socrates was arrested. He was also sentenced to death.
10. His father will come here. His mother will come here.
11. The artists will sing for us. They will dance for us.