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Glossaries

A-Z grammar terms A-Z confused pairs "parts of speech" lists

Punctuation Lessons

using apostrophes using colons using commas using dashes using hyphens using brackets using semicolons using quotation marks

English Idioms

50 common idioms 50 funny idioms 50 clever idioms 50 sarcastic idioms

Vocabulary Lessons

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Compound Sentence

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.