Compound

Word Order Creates Sentence Patterns

created by The Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill

 

Compound Sentences

What this handout is about

This handout gives an overview of the English compound sentence pattern. Go to the SentencePatterns posting for information on how to understand sentence patterns by identifying subjects, verbs, and clause connectors.  Always analyze your writing style and improve it by using a variety of sentence patterns.

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Click here for a one page summary of the English sentence patterns discussed on this handout.

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Four Basic Sentence Patterns

Every sentence pattern follows a different way to combine clauses. When you are drafting your own papers or when you’re revising them for sentence variety, try to determine how many of these patterns you use. If you favor one particular pattern, your writing might be kind of boring if every sentence has exactly the same pattern. If you find this is true, try to revise a few sentences using a different pattern.

NOTE: Because nouns can fill so many positions in a sentence, it’s easier to analyze sentence patterns if you find the verbs and find the connectors. The most common connectors are listed below with the sentence patterns that use them.

In the descriptions below, S=Subject and V=Verb, and options for arranging the clauses in each sentence pattern given in parentheses. Connecting words and the associated punctuation are highlighted in brown. Notice how the punctuation changes with each arrangement.

Pattern 2: Compound Sentence

Two or more independent clauses. They can be arranged in these ways: (SV, and SV.) or (SV; however, SV.)

Connectors with a comma, the FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (See our handout on commas for more info.)

Connectors with a semicolon and comma: however, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore

Example compound sentences:

Mr. Potato Head eats them for breakfast every day, but I don’t see the attraction.
Eating them makes him happy; however, he can’t persuade me.

Try this:

·         Scan your own text to find the compound connectors listed above. Circle them.

·         Find the verb and the subject of the clauses on both sides of the connectors.

·         Highlight your compound sentences with a color that’s different from the one you used to mark your simple sentences.

To learn more about sentence structure, move on to the next type of sentences structure by clicking here: complex sentences.

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You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout (just click print) and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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