home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- 191
- à 6.3ïIndependent Clauses in Compound Sentences
- ä:èIn the compound sentences in the Example, underline the
- independent clauses.
- âS:
- #ë╕I don't care for your sister╗, nor ╕do I like you very much╗.ï╕
- #╕Your speech was inadequate╗, for ╕you forgot to clarify your concern
- #╕about waste management╗.ï╕They left early╗, so ╕let's not invite them
- #╕again╗.ï╕We can punctuate the sentence now╗, or ╕we can wait until
- #╕after supper╗.
- éS A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences
- consisting of independent clauses.ïThe sentences in the example section
- each have two independent clauses connected by the coordinating con-
- #junctions ╖nor, or, for, ╗and ╖so╗ that are not normally used as coor-
- dinating conjunctions in simple sentences.ïThe three coordinating con-
- junctions that are commonly used in simple sentences can also be used in
- compound sentences, as in the following examples: The hamburger was
- #juicy ╖but╗ (or ╖yet╗) the buns were hard.ïI handed the ball to Will, ╖
- #╖and╗ then I winked at Elena.ïNote that a comma normally precedes the
- coordinating conjunction that connects the two independent clauses in
- the compound sentence.ïIf the compound sentence contains two short
- #independent clauses, the comma can be omitted, as in ╖the socket was
- #╖fixed so we could go outside╗.ïBut what is not optional is removing
- the coordinating conjunction between the independent clauses in a com-
- pound sentence.ïWhen that is done, and the comma remains, the result is
- #called a run-on-sentence.ïFor example, ╖the bus was late, I got furious
- is a run-on-sentence, not a compound sentence.ïIf the coordinating con-
- junction is removed, and the comma is omitted between two independent
- clauses in a compound sentence, the result is called a fused sentence.
- #For example, ╖The water looked stagnant it smelled bad╗ is a fused
- sentence, mot a compound sentence.
- 1.èWhich one of the following examples is a compound sentence?
- A)ïThe pine needles clogged one of the gutters, we now must clean out
- è that gutter.
- B)ïThe sand pile was high, but Joe wanted to build it even higher.
- C)ïThe inspector overlooked some evidence, the criminal was released
- è from custody.
- D)ïå
- ü
- #ë╢The sandpile was high╗ and ╢Joe wanted to build it even higher╗,
- two independent clauses joined by the comma and the coordinating con-
- junction, form a compound sentence.ïBoth of the other examples are
- run-on-sentences because they do not use any coordinating conjunctions
- between their independent clauses.ïThe comma by itself is insufficient.
- Ç B
- 2.ïWhich one of the following examples is a compound sentence?
- A)ïIn order to explore the mountain range, he borrowed my camping
- è gear.
- B)ïThe hyena pulled on my coat, I tried not to notice.
- C)ïThe company dismissed the workers early, for there was a major
- è power outage.
- D)ïå
- ü The compound sentence is the sentence with a comma and the co-
- #ordinating conjunction ╢for╗ linking the two independent clauses ╢the
- #╢company dismissed the workers early╗ and ╢there was a major power out-
- #╢age╗.ïAnother sentence has only one independent clause: ╖In order to
- #╖explore the mountain range, he borrowed my camping gear╗.ïThe remain-
- ing sentence is a run-on-sentence, with a comma but no coordinating
- conjunction joining two independent clauses.
- Ç C
- 3.èWhich one of the following examples is a compound sentence?
-
- A)ïBang on the door, or kick it open!
- B)ïInto the basket with you, and I hope you have learned your lesson.
- C)ïWe replayed the tape the voices were still indistinct.
- D)ïå
- #ü ╢Bang on the door, or kick it open╗ is a compound sentence.ïThe
- two independent clauses are joined by a comma and the coordinating con-
- #junction ╢or╗.ïIn another example, there is a comma and a coordinating
- conjunction directly after it, and to the right of them there is the in-
- #dependent clause ╖I hope you have learned your lesson╗.ïBut there is a
- sentence fragment to the left of the comma and the coordinating conjunc-
- #tion: ╖Into the basket with you╗ consists of two prepositional phrases.
- A sentence fragment plus a comma and a coordinating conjunction plus an
- independent clause form a simple sentence, not a compound sentence.
- The remaining example is a fused sentence.ïThe two independent clauses
- are not joined by any punctuation; nor is there a coordinating con-
- junction.
- Ç A
- 4.èWhich one of the following examples is a run-on-sentence?
-
- A)ïIn a few moments, the curfew will begin.
- B)ïGive me an hour, and I will give you a new body.
- C)ïThe girls tried to sit still, their hands began to shake.
- D)ïå
- ü The last sentence is a run-on-sentence.ïOnly a comma joins the
- #two independent thoughts ╢the girls tried to sit still╗ and ╢their hands
- #╢began to shake. ╗ To correct the run-on, add the appropriate conjunc-
- #tion ╢but╗ or ╢yet╗ after the comma.ïIn ╖In a few moments, the curfew
- #╖will begin╗, we have a simple sentence.ïAnd the remaining sentence is
- #a compound sentence.ï╖Give me an hour╗ is the first independent clause
- #(╖you╗ is the understood subject of the verb form ╖give╗).ïA comma and
- a coordinating conjunction join this independent clause to the other
- #independent clause ╖I will give you a new body╗.
- Ç C
- 5.èWhich one of the following examples is a run-on-sentence?
- A)ïTo increase our earnings, we worked overtime.
- B)ïJoe discouraged his mother from visiting him now, for he was just
- è getting over the flu.
- C)ïWorking for Mr. Jones until three in the morning, without a break
- è for a bite to eat.
- D)ïå
- ü There are no run-on-sentences in ç examples.ïOne sentence is
- a simple sentence, with a comma between the adverb infinitive phrase
- #╖to increase our earnings╗ and the subject ╖we╗, the verb form ╖worked╗,
- #and the direct object ╖overtime╗.ïAnother sentence is a compound sen-
- tence containing two independent clauses joined by a comma and the co-
- ordinating conjunction for.ïThe remaining sentence is a sentence frag-
- ment consisting of a long present participle phrase followed by a com-
- ma and three prepositional phrases.
- Ç D
- ä:èIn the compound sentences in the Example, underline the
- independent clauses.
- âS:
- #ë╕She journeyed to the Holy Land╗; ╕she also visited Finland╗.
- # ╕
- #╗╗ ╗╗╗╗è ╕Sure, they were exhausted╗; ╕they still found the strength╗
- #╕╗è ╕╗ ╕╕to play another round of volleyball╗.
-
- #ï╕╗è╕Henry will speak to Henrietta╗; ╕he may╕ change her mind╗.
- éS A compound sentence doesn't always have a comma and a coordi-
- nating conjunction connecting the independent clauses.ïA semicolon
- sometimes is used in place of the comma and the coordinating conjunc-
- tion.ïIf you are going to use a semicolon in this context, make sure
- it is obvious which coordinating conjunction has been replaced.ïIn
- #╖James raked the yard very well; he was given extra money,╗ the coordi-
- #nating conjunction replaced by the semicolon is most likely ╖so╗.ïIn
- #╖The whales were undetected; they remained far below the surface╗, the
- coordinating conjunction that the semicolon has replaced could be either
- #╖for, and,╗ or ╖so╗.ïIn this case, using a coordinating conjunction
- would be more precise than using a semicolon.ïWhenever you do use the
- semicolon to connect independent clauses in a compound sentence, make
- sure a sentence fragment has not taken the place of any independent
- #clause.ïFor example, in ╖The problem was solved; in no time╗, the group
- of words after the semicolon is not an independent clause; it is merely
- a phrase, a sentence fragment.
- 6.èWhich one of the following sentences correctly uses the
- semicolon between independent clauses in a compound sentence?
- A)ïThe herdsman could not locate the few escaped sheep; he soon rein-
- è forced the weak fence.
- B)ïI protected him; for his own good.
- C)ïThe light was dim; so we left.
- D)ïå
- ü The semicolon is used correctly in a compound sentence when it
- #connects the two independent clauses ╢the herdsman could not locate the
- #╢few escaped sheep╗ and ╢he soon reinforced the fence╗.ïThe coordina-
- #ting conjunction replaced by the semicolon is most likely ╢so╗.ïIn an-
- #other example the semicolon incorrectly joins ╖I protected him ╗to ╖for
- #╖his own good╗.ïAlthough ╖I protected him╗ is an independent clause, ╖
- #╖for his own good╗ is a sentence fragment.ïSemicolons never join sen-
- tence fragments to independent clauses.ïIn the remaining sentence, the
- #semicolon before the coordinating conjunction ╖so╗ should be replaced by
- a comma because commas, not semicolons, precede coordinating conjunc-
- tions between independent clauses.
- Ç A
- 7.ïWhich one of the following sentences correctly uses the
- semicolon between independent clauses in a compound sentence?
- A)ïPouting in the bathtub; passing out on the porch steps.
- B)ïI started to unbutton my shirt; but soon stopped.
- C)ïCrying against the wall was the injured soldier; the brutal Empire
- è had won the decisive battle.
- D)ïå
- ü In the only compound sentence, the semicolon is used correctly to
- #join two independent clauses, ╢crying against the wall was the injured
- #╢soldier╗ and ╢the brutal Empire had won the decisive battle╗.ïThe co-
- ordinating conjunction that has been replaced by the semicolon is most
- #likely ╢for╗.ïIn another example, there is an independent clause ╖I
- #╖started to button my shirt╗ followed by a semicolon, but there is no
- #independent clause to the right of the semicolon: ╖But soon stopped╗ is
- #a sentence fragment.ïIf the ╖but╗ were replaced by the pronoun ╖I╗,
- then a compound sentence would be formed.ïThe remaining example con-
- sists of two sentence fragments on either side of a semicolon, the
- #phrase ╖pouting in the bathtub╗ and the phrase ╖passing out on the porch
- #╖steps╗.
- Ç C
- 8.èWhich one of the following sentences correctly uses the
- semicolon between independent clauses in a compound sentence?
- A)ïRising from the foam; Venus greeted the onlookers.
- B)ïThe clarinet player found gum on her seat; immediately threw a fit.
- C)ïTo test his loyalty to the state; I tried to make him side with me
- è against the President.
- D)ïå
- ü In all of ç examples, semicolons are improperly used to con-
- nect an independent clause to a sentence fragment.ïIn two examples, the
- #fragment comes before the semicolon: ╖rising from the foam╗ and ╖to test
- #╖his loyalty to the state╗.ïThe proper punctuation in ç examples
- #would be a comma.ïIn one example, the fragment ╖immediately threw a fit
- comes after the semicolon.ïTo make this example into a compound sen-
- #tence, add the subject ╖she╗ after the semicolon so that the fragment
- would become an independent clause.ïThe coordinating conjunction re-
- #placed by the semicolon would then be ╖and╗.
- Ç D
-