Page 143 - Grammar for Great Writing B

10.2 Compound Sentences

A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses that are connected by a coordinating
conjunction. Three common coordinating conjunctions in academic writing are and, but, and so.

Coordinating Conjunctions

and The moon is a satellite of the earth, and it circles around the sun.

but The first manned landing on the moon was in 1969, but the first unmanned one was in 1959.

so Gravity is weaker on the moon, so everything on the moon weighs less.
Notes
1. A comma is used before the coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
Both temperate and tropical rainforests have high amounts of rainfall, but the average temperature in tropical
rainforests is higher.
2. Academic sentences do not usually begin with conjunctions.

ACTIVITY 1

Underline the subject(s) in each sentence. Label each verb with V. Then write the kind of sentence on the
line: S (simple sentence) or C (compound sentence).

1. Most wild animals depend on their instincts more than on learned behavior.

2. Fantasy and science-fiction movies help people escape from the world around them, but
documentaries make people think about the world around them.

3. Maple trees and oak trees are both deciduous trees, so they lose their leaves in the winter.

4. High quality dark chocolate contains iron and other nutrients, but it is very high in calories
and fat.

5. Schools develop children’s minds and improve their social skills.

6. Hawaii, Italy, Reunion Island, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have the most active
volcanoes in the world.

7. People used to get the news mainly from the radio, TV, or newspapers, but these days many
people find out about the news from social media and Internet sites.

8. According to the most recent reports, self-driving cars should make people’s lives easier and

the roads safer.

Grammar Forms 133

Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
130-143_18606_GGW_SB_B_U10.indd 133 12/14/16 2:58 PM