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COMPOUND SENTENCES (WITH COORDINATOR)

 

I-LANGUAGE FOCUS 

  1. Structure

A compound sentence is two or more independent clauses joined together. A compound sentence can be formed as follows:

Independent clause, + coordinator + independent clause

 

  1. Coordinators

There are seven coordinators, which are also called coordinating conjunctions. You can remember them by the phrase FAN BOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). The following sentences illustrate the meanings of the seven FAN BOYS coordinators. 

 

Table 1.1. coordinating conjunctions

To add a reason

For

Japanese people live longer than most other nationalities, for they eat healthful diets.

To add a similar, equal idea

And

They eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and they eat lightly.

To add a negative equal idea

Nor

They do not eat a lot of red meat, nor do they eat many dairy products.

Note: Nor means “and not.” It joins two negative independent clauses. Notice that question word order is used after nor.

To add an opposite idea

But

Diet is one factor in how long people live, but it is not the only factor.

To add an alternative possibility

Or

However, people should limit the amount of animal fat in their diets, or they risk getting heart disease.

To add an unexpected or surprising continuation

Yet

Cigarette smoking is a factor in longevity, yet Japanese and other long-lived Asians have a very high rate of tobacco use.

To add an expected result

So

Doctors say that stress is another longevity factor, so try to avoid stress if you wish to live a longer life.

 

Note: - There is a comma after the first independent clause.

  - But and yet have similar meanings: They both signal that an opposite idea is coming. But is preferred when the two clauses are direct opposites. When the second clause is an unexpected or surprising continuation because of information given in the first clause, yet is preferred. (But is acceptable for both meanings; yet for only one meaning.) 

Compare:

I want to study art, but my parents want me to study engineering, (direct opposite)

I am very bad at math, yet my parents want me to study engineering, (surprising continuation after “I am very bad at math”)

 

II-LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Use correct coordinator

1.Jaewon was cold, _______ he put on a coat.
2. Maria tried to read a novel in French, _______ it was too difficult.
3. To get from Vancouver to Victoria, you can fly, _______ you can ride the ferry.
4. I bought a bottle of wine, _______ we drank it together.
5. The waiter was not very nice, _______ the food was delicious.
6. I went to buy a Rolling Stones CD, _______ the shop didn't have it.
7. Anna needed some money,_______ she took a part-time job.
8. There's so much rain lately! Maybe it's because of El Nino, _______ maybe it's just coincidence.
9. Julie has a guitar, _______ she plays it really well.
10. The concert was cancelled, _______ we went to a nightclub instead.

 

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