What Is a Compound Sentence? | Example & Definition

A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses (i.e., two simple sentences) joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon (e.g., “I went to the store, and Marcus cooked dinner”).

Compound sentences are one of the four sentence structures in English. The others are simple sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences.

Compound sentence examples
Lisa likes milk, but Evelyn does not.

Can you come by after work, or will you be too busy?

Congress is expected to pass the legislation soon; their summer recess begins Monday.

What is a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses (a group of words with a subject and a verb that can stand on its own as a sentence). The two independent clauses are always joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and,” “or,” “but”) or a semicolon (;).

Remember that in a compound sentence, each part of the sentence could stand on its own if the comma and coordinating conjunction or the semicolon were removed.

Compound sentence examples
This week, we will work on a first draft, and next week, we will perfect it.

Inflation has gone up, so consumer confidence has gone down.

I did not want to come, yet here I am!

Let’s go to the gym; I don’t feel like studying right now.

How to create compound sentences

Compound sentences are always formed by joining two simple sentences. The sentences can be joined in two ways:

Use a comma and coordinating conjunction

There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English. They are often remembered with the mnemonic device FANBOYS:

  • For
  • And
  • Nor
  • But
  • Or
  • Yet
  • So

Any of these can be used to create a compound sentence, though “for,” “yet,” and “nor” are relatively less common. The choice of a coordinating conjunction depends on the relationship you want to express between the two independent clauses.

Just because you see a coordinating conjunction does not mean the sentence is compound.
Coordinating conjunctions can also be used in other ways, such as joining a compound subject or compound predicate.

Coordinating conjunctions in sentences examples
Simple sentences Compound sentences
Nella and Carlos are eating lunch. Nella is eating lunch, and Carlos is in a meeting.
We can go to the park or watch a movie. We can go to the park, or we can watch a movie.
Note
When coordinating conjunctions are used to form a compound sentence, they should be preceded by a comma.

Although people often leave out the comma in shorter sentences in informal writing or for literary effect, it is required in academic writing.

  • Mason has a cold and I have the flu.
  • Mason has a cold, and I have the flu.

Use a semicolon

Instead of using a comma and coordinating conjunction, you can use a semicolon in compound sentences. A semicolon indicates that the two sentences are related, but, unlike a coordinating conjunction, it does not give information about what that relationship is.

Compound sentences with semicolons examples
The traffic has been terrible lately; maybe you should fly instead.

Germany has six gold medals; France has five.

My mom will arrive later today; she is coming after her meeting.

Note that the word following the semicolon is not capitalized (unless it is a proper noun).

Semicolons are often used along with conjunctive adverbs (e.g., “however,” “as a result”) to give more information about the relationship between the two clauses.

Compound sentences with semicolons and conjunctive adverbs examples
The president’s advisers didn’t like the legislation; nevertheless, she signed it.

Nebraska received much lower rainfall than predicted; as a result, the wheat crop failed.

Note
A comma on its own should not be used to join two independent clauses. This is known as a comma splice.

While you may sometimes see this in informal writing, especially with shorter sentences, it is an error that should be avoided in academic writing.

  • I’m from Mexico, she’s from Spain.
  • I’m from Mexico, and she’s from Spain.
  • I’m from Mexico; she’s from Spain.

Compound vs complex sentences

Sentence structure is determined by the number and type of clauses in a sentence. English has two clause types:

  • Independent clauses can stand on their own as a sentence.
  • Dependent clauses cannot stand on their own as a sentence. They begin with a dependent clause marker, either a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “until,” “if,”) or a relative pronoun (e.g., “that,” “which,” “who”).

The table below shows the components of the four different sentence structures.

Sentence structures
Type Components Example
Simple One independent clause Teresa passed the test.
Compound Two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon Teresa passed the test, but Avi failed it.
Complex One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses Avi failed the test because she didn’t study.
Compound-complex Two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses Teresa passed the test, but Avi failed it because she didn’t study.

While compound sentences are made up of at least two independent clauses, complex sentences are made up of only one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Frequently asked questions about compound sentences

What is a compound sentence example?

An example of a compound sentence is “Rakesh likes baseball, but Simone prefers basketball.”

This sentence, like all compound sentences, has two independent clauses (“Rakesh likes baseball” and “Simone prefers basketball”). The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“but”).

Other coordinating conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “so”) can also be used to form a compound sentence. Alternatively, a semicolon can be used (e.g., “Rakesh likes baseball; Simone prefers basketball”).

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are free of errors.

How do you make a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is made by combining two simple sentences (or independent clauses) with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Compound sentence examples
We can go to the store now, or Chelsea can go after dinner.

Complete the assignment for homework, but skip the last question.

The team blew an early lead; it was a tough loss.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are structured correctly.

What is the difference between a simple and compound sentence?

Simple and compound sentences differ in their number of independent clauses (i.e., a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand on its own as a sentence).

Note that simple sentences can have compound subjects (e.g., “Jack and Lucy went shopping”) or compound predicates (e.g., “Jack went shopping and cooked dinner”) or both (e.g., “‘Jack and Lucy went shopping and cooked dinner”).

A compound sentence, in contrast, is formed when two full simple sentences are connected.

Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure your sentences are structured correctly.

What is the difference between a complex sentence and a compound sentence?

Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses connected with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Complex vs compound sentence examples
Complex sentence Compound sentence
If it stops raining, I will go to the park. It stopped raining, so I went to the park.
Kya was sleeping while the teacher was talking. The teacher was talking, and Kya was sleeping.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your sentence structure to improve your writing.

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Kayla Anderson Hewitt, MA

Kayla has a master's degree in teaching English as a second language. She has taught university-level ESL and first-year composition courses. She also has 15 years of experience as an editor.