What Is a Compound Sentence? (with Examples)
What Is a Compound Sentence? (with Examples)
A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses.An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence.
Examples of Compound Sentences
Below are examples of compound sentences. In each example, the independent clauses are shaded.- Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. (Albert Einstein, 1879-1955)
- There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed. (Peter Sellers, 1925-1980)
- Go, and never darken my towels again. (Groucho Marx, 1890-1977) (Note: Go is the shortest sentence in English.)
- Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. (Dale Carnegie)
Joining the Independent Clauses in a Compound Sentence
In a compound sentence, the independent clauses are joined using one of the following methods:- A conjunction with a comma (e.g., ", and")
- I like tea, and he likes coffee.
- A semicolon
- I like hot chocolate; it sends me to sleep.
- A colon
- I know one thing: I love that girl. (This is rare because the words after a colon are not often an independent clause.)
- A dash
- I know you're here — I can smell your perfume.
- A conjunction with a semicolon (e.g., "; and")
- After the lights went out, I could hear you whispering; and I know you were talking about me. (This is rare because it's an outdated style.)
The Four Types of Sentence Structure
A compound sentence is one of four main sentence structures, all of which are shown below. In these examples, the independent clauses are shaded.A Complex Sentence. A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. For example:
- Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a rock. (Will Rogers, 1879-1935)
- Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. (Joseph Heller, 1923-1999) (Jane Wagner) (This example has three independent clauses.)
- A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs. (German Proverb)
- I stopped believing in Santa Claus when he asked for my autograph in a department store, but I still want to believe in him.
See Also
What is a sentence? What are independent clauses? What are dependent clauses? What is a complex sentence? What is a simple sentence? Commas before conjunctions Glossary of grammatical terms
Top Tip
Use a Comma before a Conjunction That Joins Two Independent Clauses
There is often confusion over whether to use a comma before a conjunction (i.e., a word like and and but). It is worth being able to spot a compound sentence because you should use a comma before a conjunction that joins two independent clauses. For example:- He is smart, and articulate.
(This is not a compound sentence. It does not have two independent clauses. There should be no comma before and.)
- He is smart, and he is articulate.
(This is a compound sentence. It has two independent clauses. The comma before and is correct.)