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LESSON 16: COMPOUND SENTENCES Relevant Review

• Coordinating Conjunctions = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so • Do you remember how to diagram compound prepositions, verb phrases,

adjectives, adverbs, subjects, verbs, and direct objects? (If not, review lessons 13-15.)

Lesson

Now it's time to diagram compound sentences.

That means you’ll be diagramming two or more independent clauses* joined by a coordinating conjunction.

* A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two main types of clauses: independent and dependent. Independent clauses express complete thoughts and can stand all alone as complete ideas. They are basically sentences, which is what we have been studying all along. We’ll learn more about clauses starting in lesson 26.

Here are some examples of compound sentences. I’ll give you one example for each coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating Conjunction

Compound Sentence

for I felt sleepy, for I had not slept in days.

and I ate chicken for dinner, and Joe ate pizza.

nor I did not want to sleep, nor did I want to rest.

but I want to play at the park, but my brother wants to play at home.

or Dad can pick you up, or you can take the bus.

yet I was tired, yet I was happy.

so It was dinner time, so I cooked a fabulous meal.

Did you notice that each example is just one sentence, but each sentence contains two independent clauses? There is an independent clause on either side of each coordinating conjunction.

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Diagramming Compound Sentences

You’re going to love how easy it is to diagram compound sentences.

Diagram one independent clause on top of the other and place the conjunction on a dotted vertical line connecting the two diagrams on the left side.

I ate chicken for dinner, and Joe ate pizza.

Notice that the first independent clause is I ate chicken for dinner. Start by diagramming that first clause.

The next clause is Joe ate pizza. Again, this is an independent clause that can stand all alone as a complete idea.

Diagram it below the first clause.

Finally, connect the two diagrams with a dotted vertical line. Place the coordinating conjunction on that line.

If the conjunction joins more than two independent clauses, stack all of the clauses on top of each other and connect them with the coordinating conjunction.

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Lesson 16 Sentence Diagramming Exercises

1. Kristy cleaned the garage, and Ben raked the leaves.

Key

Kristy cleaned the garage, and Ben raked the leaves.

compound sentence – statement

Kristy cleaned the garage, Ben raked the leaves

independent clauses

and coordinating conjunction

Kristy subject (noun)

cleaned verb (transitive active)

garage direct object (noun)

the adjective

Ben subject (noun)

raked verb (transitive active)

leaves direct object (noun)

the adjective

 

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2. I wanted a green candle, but I only found this red one.

Key

I wanted a green candle, but I only found this red one.

compound sentence - statement

I wanted a green candle, I only found this red one

independent clauses

but coordinating conjunction

I subject (pronoun)

wanted verb (transitive active)

candle direct object (noun)

a, green adjectives

I subject (pronoun)

found verb (transitive active)

only adverb

one direct object (pronoun)

this, red adjectives

 

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3. Did you already rent a cabin, or shall we rent a hotel room?

Key

Did you already rent a cabin, or shall we rent a hotel room?

compound sentence – question

You did already rent a cabin, or we shall rent a hotel room.

compound sentence – statement (Yeah. This question sounds really strange as a statement!)

Did you already rent a cabin, shall we rent a hotel room

independent clauses

or coordinating conjunction

you subject (pronoun)

Did rent verb phrase

Did helping verb

rent main verb (transitive active)

cabin direct object (noun)

a adjective

already adverb

we subject (pronoun)

shall rent verb phrase

shall helping verb

rent main verb (transitive active)

room direct object (noun)

a, hotel adjectives

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4. He doesn’t usually ski, but he does snowboard.

Key

He doesn’t usually ski, but he does snowboard.

compound sentence - statement

He doesn’t usually ski, he does snowboard independent clauses

but coordinating conjunction

He subject (pronoun)

does ski verb phrase

does helping verb

ski main verb (intransitive complete)

n’t, usually adverbs

he subject (pronoun)

does snowboard verb phrase

does helping verb

snowboard main verb (intransitive complete)

 

 

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5. I made a coffee cake and muffins for breakfast, and Mom made a spicy omelet.

Key

I made a coffee cake and muffins for breakfast, and Mom made a spicy omelet.

compound sentence - statement

I made a coffee cake and muffins for breakfast, Mom made a spicy omelet

independent clauses

and coordinating conjunction

I subject (pronoun)

made verb (transitive active)

cake, muffins compound direct objects (nouns)

a, coffee adjective

and coordinating conjunction

for breakfast prepositional phrase (adverb)

for preposition

breakfast object of the preposition (noun)

Mom subject (noun)

made verb (transitive active)

omelet direct object (noun)

a, spicy adjectives

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Can You Diagram This Challenge Sentence?

David and Allen will eat pizza or chicken and drink milk or soda, but Lori will eat hot and creamy pasta.