Compound Sentences
A compound sentence consists of two or more clauses of equal rank. Study the sentence given below.
- He got off the floor and walked away.
- He got off the floor. He walked away.
Here we merely connected the two independent clauses with the coordinating conjunction and. Clauses of this kind are called coordinate clauses.
More examples are given below.
- She arrived in the morning and started making arrangements for the trip.
- They found the boy but he was almost dead.
When we connect two clauses with a coordinating conjunction, we get a compound sentence.
There are mainly four types of coordinating conjunctions.
Cumulative conjunctions (and)
They merely add two clauses.
- She got the message and started immediately.
- She worked hard and secured the first rank.
- She refused the offer and later regretted her decision.
- She learnt her lessons and went out to play.
- She went on a diet and lost oodles of weight.
Adversative conjunction (but, still, only, yet)
They connect two contrasting ideas.
- She didn’t come but I waited patiently.
- She had hardly any chances of survival, yet she didn’t lose hope.
- She betrayed my trust, still I loved her.
Alternative conjunction (or, nor, else)
Alternative conjunctions express a choice between two alternatives.
- The doctor must arrive soon or the patient will die.
- Run fast else you will miss the train.
Illative conjunctions (for)
They express an inference.
- I can’t come tomorrow for I have an important appointment.
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