Compound Sentences with Coordinators

 

 

Independent clause, + coordinator + independent clause

 

 

Notice that there is a comma after the first independent clause. The following sentences illustrate the meanings of the seven “FAN BOYS” coordinators.

For Women live longer than men, for they take better care of their health.

And Women follow more healthful diets, and they go to doctors more often.

Nor Women don’t smoke as much as men do, nor do they drink as much alcohol.

But Men may exercise harder, but they may not exercise as regularly as women do.

Or Both men and women should limit the amount of fat in their diets, or they risk getting heart disease.

Yet Women used to be known as the “weaker sex”, yet in some ways, they are stronger than men.

So Men are less cautious that women, so more men die in accidents.

 

Practice II Add another independent clause to the following independent clauses to form compound sentences. Be sure to write a complete clause containing a subject and a verb. Underline the coordinator and add punctuation.

 

Example

The college campus is located in the center of the city, soit is very easy to do my shopping.

1. Students can attend day classes and ______________________________________.

2. Students can live in dormitories or ______________________________________.

3. I have finished my math homework but ___________________________________.

4. I have studied English fir six years yet ____________________________________.

5. My adviser suggested a word processing class for ___________________________.

6. Some students do not like to write term papers nor ___________________________.

7. The instructor gave us eight weeks to write our term papers yet ________________.

8. Most students had not even chosen a topic nor ______________________________.

9. The instructor was very upset for _________________________________________.

10. My roommate scored very high on the English placement test so ________________.

 

Practice III For each pair of sentences, choose a coordinator that best fits the meaning and join the two independent clauses to form a compound sentence. Use each FAN BOYS coordinator once. Write your new sentences on a separate sheet of paper, and punctuate them correctly.

Example Nuclear accidents can happen. Nuclear power plants must have strict safety controls.

Nuclear accidents can happen, so nuclear power plants must have strict safety controls.

1. The accident at the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in the United States created fears about the safety of this energy source. The disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union confirmed them.

2. Solar heating systems are economical to operate. The cost of installation is very high.

3. Energy needs are not going to decrease. Energy sources are not going to increase.

4. Burning fossil fuels causes serious damage to our planet. We need to develop other sources of energy.

5. Ecologists know that burning fossil fuels causes holes in the ozone layer. People continue to do it.

6. Poorer nations especially will continue this harmful practice. They don’t have the money to develop “clean” energy sources.

7. All nations of the world must take action. Our children and grandchildren will suffer to consequences.

 

Practice IV On a separate sheet of paper, write seven compound sentences of your own on the topic of your research, using each coordinator.

 

Compound Sentences with Conjunctive Adverbs

 

Independent clause; + conjunctive adverb, + independent clause

 

Also, just like the FAN BOYS coordinators, conjunctive adverbs express relationships between the clauses. See how the coordinators and conjunctive adverbs express similar meanings.

 

And = besides, furthermore, moreover, also

 

Ex. Community colleges offer preparation for many occupations; moreover, they prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university.

 

But

= however, nevertheless, nonetheless

Yet

Ex. Many community colleges do not have dormitories; however, they provide housing referral services.

 

Or = otherwise

Ex. Students must take final exams; otherwise, they will receive a grade of incomplete.

 

So = accordingly, consequently, hence, therefore, thus

Ex. Native and nonnative English speakers have different needs; therefore, most schools provide separate English classes for each group.

 

Practice V Add another independent clause to each independent clause that follows to form compound sentences. Be sure to add a complete clause containing a subject and a verb. Underline the conjunctive adverb and add punctuation.

 

Example The college campus is located in the center of the city; therefore, it is very easy to do my shopping.

 

1. Students can attend day classes moreover _____________________________________.

2. Students can live in dormitories otherwise____________________________________.

3. I have finished my math homework however ___________________________________

4. I have studied English fir six years nevertheless_________________________________

5. My adviser suggested a word processing class for ___________________________.

6. The instructor gave us eight weeks to write our term papers nonetheless ____________.

7. My roommate scored very high on the English placement test consequently ________________.

 

Practice VI On a separate sheet of paper, combine the pairs of sentences in items 2,4,5,and 7 from Practice III using conjunctive adverbs instead of coordinators. Punctuate your new sentences correctly.

 

Practice VII Write four compound sentences on the topic of your research, using each of these conjunctive adverbs once: furthermore, however, therefore, and otherwise.