Compound & Complex Sentences

Sometimes two simple sentences have related ideas. The sentences can be joined to form a compound sentence.

Joining two sentences will make your writing smoother and clearer. Look at these examples. I choose the movie. Dad drove us to the movie. I chose the movie, and Dad drove us there. The movie starts off slowly. The movie gets really exciting. The movie starts off slowly, but it gets really exciting.

The words that join two simple sentences together are called coordinating conjunctions There are 7 coordinating conjunctions. The acronym F.A.N.B.O.Y.S can help you remember these! F-for A-and N-nor B-but O-or Y-yet S- so

Compound Sentence Rule A comma (,) goes before the coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence. EXAMPLE I wanted to buy concert tickets, but I didn’t have enough money.

{PRACTICE} Identify the coordinating conjunction in each sentence. 1. I could go to Sara’s house, or I could stay home. 2. I played great this season, so I got a trophy! 3. She painted a beautiful portrait, yet she didn’t feel it was her best work.

A complex sentence also has two related ideas. The related ideas are joined by subordinating conjunctions.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNTIONS After Until Before Because Although When

SUBORDINATING CONJUNTIONS The subordinating conjunction may come at the beginning of the sentence. EXAMPLE Although she loved ice cream, she wasn’t in the mood to eat any. Notice that when the first idea in the sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction, a comma follows that idea.

{PRACTICE} In between which two words should the comma go? Before she went to the party she went shopping for a gift. When she arrived at the party she realized she was an hour late.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNTIONS If the first word does not begin with a subordinating conjunction, a comma is not needed. EXAMPLE You cannot enter the school until they mop the hallway. Do you recognize which word is the subordinating conjunction?

EXAMPLE You cannot enter the school until they mop the hallway.

EXAMPLE OF COMPLEX SENTENCES Although I want to go outside, it is far too cold. Students are not allowed on the field trip until they get their permission slips signed. After the storm passed, our electricity came back on.

I didn’t get to go swimming because it was storming outside. Books get thrown away after they have been used for a long period of time. See if you can recognize the subordinating conjunction in each of these complex sentences.

Compound Sentences use coordinating conjunctions to connect two thoughts. Complex sentences use subordinating conjunctions to connect two thoughts. Let’s Re-cap

Give me an example of a COMPOUND sentence. Give me an example of a COMPLEX sentence. WRITING TIME

Time to see if you can recognize the difference between compound, complex, and simple sentences.