Compound Sentences at Grammar Songs by
Melissa. What is a compound sentence? More importantly, how can understanding and
using compound sentences make me a better writer? Let's get started! A
compound sentence is formed when two independent clauses are joined by using
a coordinating conjunction. Huh? What? I know that may sound confusing, so let me
explain. An independent clause is the exact same thing as a complete sentence.
Remember, a complete sentence is made of a subject and a predicate. The subject
tells who or what the sentence is about and the predicate tells what the subject
does or is. So, an example of an independent clause or complete sentence
could be, "Cullen ate pepperoni pizza." "Cullen" is who the sentence is about, and
"ate pepperoni pizza" is what Cullen, the subject, did.
What about a compound sentence? Yeah, how do we make one of those? I'm getting to
that! Basically a compound sentence is formed
when one independent clause, or complete sentence ,is joined to another
independent clause, or complete sentence. This means that a compound sentence
would have a total of two subjects and two predicates. The two sentences, or
independent clauses, are joined together by using a coordinating conjunction. The
coordinating conjunction is like the glue of the sentence, holding it together.
So, if I go back to my original independent clause, "Cullen ate pepperoni
pizza," I can add another independent clause,
"Nathan ate chocolate cake," to form a compound sentence, "Cullen a pepperoni
pizza, and Nathan ate chocolate cake." Creating a compound sentence allows me
to express two ideas at once. So a compound sentence is when you glue two
sentences together! And the special kind of glue you need is called a
coordinating conjunction! Yes, that is a great way to remember it! It is also
important to note that a comma should always be placed before the coordinating
conjunction when forming a compound sentence.
Let's practice joining two independent clauses to form a compound sentence.
Sasha could go shopping. She could go to the dance. To combine these two
independent clauses to form a compound sentence, we need to choose a
coordinating conjunction to be the glue. Do you see a coordinating conjunction
that can combine these two ideas? Hmm.. Well, since Sasha can't do both activities
at the same time, she will have to make a choice. She will need to choose one thing
or the other. Sasha could go shopping, or she could go to the dance. And since I
used a coordinating conjunction, I should place a comma before "or" to punctuate
properly. I think I'll go to the dance! Yippee! Have
fun! While sasha has fun at the dance, let's practice again. Tammy had the lucky
ticket. She won a million dollars. To combine these independent clauses to
form a compound sentence, we need to choose a coordinating conjunction to be
the glue. Do you see a coordinating conjunction that will combine these two
ideas? Hmm... Well, since one event happened because of the other, "so" would be a good
choice. Tammy had the lucky ticket, so she won a million dollars! And, since I
used a coordinating conjunction, I should place a comma before "so" to punctuate
properly. I can't believe I won! Congratulations Tammy! I get it!
I know how to form compound sentence! I get it too! Then why the long face? I can
make compound sentences, but I still don't understand how they will make me a
better writer. Wow! You are certainly asking an excellent question! Let me show
you. Let's read a short paragraph Anni wrote about her school. Healthy Learning
Academy is a great school. The principal has high expectations. The teachers care.
The students want to learn. They do their best. The school is very small. It offers
many programs. Anni did a great job writing about her school .Her paragraph
has good information, but some of her sentences are short and choppy. We could
help Anni combine some of her sentences, or independent clauses, to give her
paragraph better flow. We want to help!! Great! We're going to need to "glue" some
of these sentences together using coordinating conjunctions. Let's read
Anni's paragraph again. We will look for ways to combine some of her sentences
along the way. Healthy Learning Academy is a great
school. The principal has high expectations. The teachers care. I know!
"The teachers care," is a short sentence. It only has three words. It is an
independent clause, but it is short. Do you see a way to glue it to another
sentence by using a conjunction? Hmm... We could use "and!" The principal has high
expectations, and the teachers care. Very good! Let's keep reading. The students
want to learn. They do their best. I know! "They do their best," is a short sentence.
It only has four words. Okay, do you see a way to glue it to another sentence by
using a conjunction? Hmm... We could use "so." The students want to learn, so they do
their best. Excellent! Let's finish the paragraph. The school is very small. It
offers many programs. Any ideas? I'm not sure! This one is a little tricky, so
relax and let me explain. Anni thinks it is important to let the reader know that
her school offers many programs even though it is very small. These are
opposite ideas. "But" and "yet" would both be good choices for combining these two
sentences. "Yet" gives more of a surprising element. The school is small, yet it
offers many programs. That sounds great! Let's read Anni's new paragraph using
compound sentences to see how it flows now. Let's write the complete sentences
in black and the compound sentences in red. And don't forget the commas! Oh,
thanks! Healthy Learning Academy is a great
school. The principal has high expectations, and the teachers care. The
students want to learn, so they do their best. The school is very small yet it
offers many programs. That sounds great! Thank you for helping me. I'm glad to
show you how to use compound sentences, Anni, and I'm glad you are proud of your
school. That was fun! And now I understand why I should use compound sentences when
I write! Very good! And don't forget the glue! Thank you for joining me at Grammar
Songs by Melissa. Enjoy other related videos at GrammarSongs.com
