The compound sentence

A COMPOUND SENTENCE is a sentence which consists of two or more independent clauses. Clauses have a subject and a predicate of their own. They are called coordinate clauses, as they are joined by coordination.

In a compound sentence clauses may be connected syndetically (by means of conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs) and asyndetically (without conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs).

Syndetically: Give me one firm spot to stand, and I will move the earth. (Archimedes)

Asyndetically: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;

All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men

Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Clauses in a compound sentence are sequentially joined. We cannot change the order of clauses without changing the meaning of the whole sentence. The opening clause usually plays the leading role.

From the point of view of relationship between coordinate clauses, we distinguish four kinds of coordination:

1. Copulative coordination implies that two events or ideas are merely connected, joined in time and place.

Copulative connectors: 1) conjunctions: and, nor, neither …

nor, not only … but, as well as

2) conjunctive adverbs: then, moreover

3) asyndetically

The students didn’t know grammar, nor did they come to the lesson.

He doesn’t have a car and neither do I.

She was familiar with the problems, and they bored her.

We entered the university, then we turned to the right.

The bus stopped, the automatic door sprang open, a lady got off.

The price is too high, moreover the bike is in need of repair.

He was neither going to apologize, nor was he going to offer any explanation.

2. Disjunctive coordination denotes choice between two or more alternatives.

Disjunctive connectors: 1) conjunctions: or, either … or

2) conjunctive adverbs: else (or else),

otherwise

We must hurry up, or we’ll miss the tram.

Either listen to me, or go home.

Don’t sit in a draught else you’ll catch a cold.

Books must have pictures, otherwise it’s no use reading them.

3. Adversative coordination denotes that two ideas contradict each other.

Adversative connectors: 1) conjunctions: but, while whereas

2) conjunctive adverbs: yet, still,

nevertheless, nonetheless

3) conjunctive particle: only

4) asyndetically

I was not hungry, but I ate much.

Mary is a dentist, while John is a musician.

There was an electric light, only Bill didn’t know.

John wants to come with us, only he can’t.

He was angry, yet he smiled.

I wanted to go to the mountains, whereas the rest of us wanted to go to the beach.

It may rain before the game begins; nevertheless we’re going.

Two or three scenes stood out vividly in his mind – all the rest became a blur.

4. Causative-consecutive coordination implies that one of the clauses contains a cause and the other – a consequence.

1. causative conjunction: for

2. asyndetically

3) consecutive conjunctive adverbs: so, therefore, hence,

consequently, accordingly, then, and

The days became longer, for it was now springtime.

I thought they were brother and sister, they were so much alike.

The dinner is ready, so go and wash your hands.

I fell down the stairs; hence I didn’t come to the lesson.

Pull at the rope, and the door will open.

Mr Jones was asked to come, and accordingly he came.

The bank refused to help the company; consequently it went bankrupt.

NOTE: The difference between causative-consecutive coordination and causative subordination (see below) is that the connection is much looser in the former. A for-clause never precedes the clause it is joined to.