What's the difference between compound sentences and a complex sentence?
2 Answers
Nice question.
Explanation:
To make a complex or compound sentence, you need at least two clauses.
If it is a complex sentence, you need one dependent ( or a subordinate clause like Americans say) and an independent clause.( or coordinating conjunction clause, American say)
Look, above my sentence is here made a complex sentence.
"If" connecting word makes a dependent clause and a COMMA separate the main clause or independent clause.
You like to make a compound sentence; you must make two independent clauses.
Look, above I made a compound sentence.
To make a compound sentence, you have to use few connecting words like---and, but, or, nor, so, yet semi colon.
See explanation...
Explanation:
To make a complex or compound sentence, you need at least two clauses. If it is a complex sentence, you need one dependent ( or a subordinate clause) and an independent clause (or coordinating conjunction clause).
For example: "Though he was very rich, he was still unhappy."
This is an example of a complex sentence. The dependant clause is the first part, and the independent clause is in bold. You can tell they are independant or dependant based on which one can be stated alone.
Try saying both of those clauses, does one sound like a complete sentence? Does one sound incomplete?
A compound sentence is very similar, but it has two independent clauses. Normally, these two clauses can be separated by: for, and, but, etc. There is an easy acronym to remember all of the conjunctions (the word that connects two independent clauses), it is FANBOYS. This means...
F: for
A: and
N: nor
B: ut
O: or
Y: yet
S: so
For example: "I think I will buy the red car, or I will lease the blue one."
Notice the "," and the "conjunction". Now try saything both of these clauses. They sound perfectly fine without the other one! That's because they are two independent clauses.
Hope this helps determine the difference between complex and compound sentences!
~Chandler Dowd
