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April 25, 2000
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
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Last week we began to look at the four sentence types that dominate modern English structure--
simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex; we began with the simple sentence. This week we'll
look at compound sentences.
COMPOUND sentences contain two or more independent clauses. Remember that an independent clause is a
complete thought which serves as a simple sentence (or part of a compound, complex, or compound-
complex sentence).
(a) Independent clauses in a compound sentence can be joined by a semi-colon.
(b) They also may be joined by a comma with a coordinate conjunction (and, or, so, yet, but, for).
(c) One other option is to join two main clauses with a semi-colon followed by a conjunctive adverb
(such as however, moreover, therefore, etc.) and comma.
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EXAMPLES:
(a) We just moved into a new condominium; it's bigger than our old house.
(The two independent clauses are joined by a semi-colon because they're closely related.)
(b) The little brown dog barked, and the dark grey cat meowed.
(The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.)
(c) Mary quit her job; however, her former employer rehired her.
(The two independent clauses are joined by a semi-colon followed by a conjunctive
adverb--however--and a comma.)
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Compound sentences add detail and richness to sentence structure to help a writer avoid
overusing flat, simple statements. Compound sentences provide description and complexity to a piece of
writing.
Next week we'll look at complex sentences.
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PAST ISSUES AVAILABLE ON-LINE
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http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives
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SPELLING TIP:
How did you do with last week's "ie" words? Here are the correct spellings:
beige
brief
ceiling
deceive
grief
sieve
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Let's try a few more for next week. Which word is spelled correctly in the pairs below?
diety or deity
hieght or height
lietmotif or leitmotif
lieutenant or leiutenant
riegn or reign
thief or theif
wieght or weight
Answers will be published in next week's edition of GRAMMARCHECK.
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WRITING TIP:
To keep your writing style crisp and interesting, vary sentence length. For example, if your
sentences typically average 11 words each, try interspersing them with the occasional very short
sentence of 2 or 3 words (No way! This cannot be.) or the extra long sentence of 15 to 20 words.
That way you'll avoid the monotonous sing-song tone that tends to make some writing quite dull.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: What is the correct form of address for a married couple when a wife has kept her maiden
name? Different grammar reference books give different answers. Two such answers we've seen are as
follows:
Mr. William Blythe and Ms. Barbara Spaulding
Mr. William Blythe and Mrs. Barbara Spaulding
If the latter, how can this be the case if the Mr. does not change to anything when the man marries
and retains his surname, but the woman's prefix changes even when the last name stays the same?
Thanks for your assistance.
GRAMMARCHECK: You're right; grammar sources suggest a variety of possibilities for addressing a
couple who do not share the same surname. Here's another possibility:
William Blythe and Barbara Spaulding
or
William Blythe
Barbara Spaulding
(list alphabetically by last name)
One male student suggests that the change of Miss to Mrs. following marriage "shows possession"! :-)
Generally, the couple will agree as to which form of address they prefer and then inform personal
and professional associates.
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QUESTION: Is the following correct?
I was going to the shop when it started raining.
GRAMMARCHECK: Yes, this statement is correct as shown. Here's another variation:
I was going to the shop when it started to rain.
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QUESTION: Which is correct:
This dish is accompanied by the suitable gravy.
This dish is accompanied with the suitable gravy.
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first example is correct. One is accompanied "by" rather than "with."
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QUESTION: What is the difference between "supervising an exam" and "invigilating an exam" if there's a difference?
GRAMMARCHECK: None of the dictionaries we consulted even listed "invigilating" as a word, which is
not to say it does not exist. Assuming that it means to "hold vigil over" an exam (and thus suggest
a similar meaning as "supervise"), the main difference we can see is that using the second word will
intimidate people more effectively than the first!
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