In English, there are four different kinds of sentences. In Unit 2, you learned the first type–the simple sentence. The second type is called the compound sentence.

What is a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence is two independent clauses that are joined together in one sentence. In other words, if you put two simple sentences together, you have a compound sentence. When we combine two clauses to make one sentence, we need to link the two ideas, and the easiest way to do that is with a coordinator and a comma. There are seven coordinators we can use to make a compound sentence: and, but, so, or, for, yet, nor

  • Simple Sentence
    • The pilot crash landed onto the Hudson River.
  • Simple Sentence
    • The passenger and crew began to cheer.
  • Compound Sentence
    • The pilot crash landed onto the Hudson River, and the passengers and crew began to cheer.
  • Simple Sentence
    • Sarah likes going out flying with her instructors.
  • Simple Sentence
    • She always feels terrible at doing emergency flight maneuvers.
  • Compound Sentence
    • Sarah likes going out flying with her friends, but she always feels terrible at doing emergency flight maneuvers.

Coordinators give meaning to a sentence and explain the connection between the two clauses:

  • Fire crew can improve their skills, and they can meet interesting people. (adds more information)
  • I really like thunder storms, but I've never tried flying through one. (contrast)
  • He has been taking helicopter lessons for a year, yet he cannot do a simple autorotation. (surprising contrast)
  • Many foreign pilots are afraid to make a mistake, so they do not like speaking to air traffic control. (result)
  • You can find a job, or you can join the Air Traffic Control (ATC). (option)
  • The pilot never forgot that mistake, for it changed his life. (reason) Formal
  • Pilots cannot use their smartphones during the simulator emergency flight testing, nor can they leave the cockpit of the simulator. (adds information to a negative sentence) Formal

Exercise

Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.

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