Lesson 7: Understanding

The English Sentence

Bruce Clary, McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas

CM305 EDITING FALL 2015

Compound Sentences
Compound sentences comprise two (or more)
independent clausestwo subject-predicate word
groups that can stand alone by themselves as
sentences.

Because the independent clauses in a compound

are joined with either a coordinate conjunction or a
pair of correlative conjunctions, the ideas each
clause remain equal in importance.

CM305 EDITING FALL 2015

Compound Sentences
The independent clauses in a compound sentence
can be correctly joined in several ways.

Way #1: The clauses can be joined by coordinate or

correlative conjunctions and a comma.

Ex: Adrian is interviewing President Schneider, and

Miranda is taking the photos.

Ex: Marissa will ride her bike to Craft C

offee, but
Caitlyn will either walk or get a ride with someone
else.

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Compound Sentences
Way #2: Independent clauses can also be correctly
combined with nothing but a semicolon.

Ex: Adrian is interviewing President Schneider;

Miranda is taking the photos.

Ex: Marissa will ride her bike to Craft C

offee; Caitlyn
will either walk or get a ride with someone else.

CM305 EDITING FALL 2015

Compound Sentences
Way #3: Independent clauses are sometimes joined
into a compound sentence by both a semicolon and
a conjunctive adverb.

Ex: Adrian is interviewing President Schneider;

however, Miranda is taking the photos.

Ex: Marissa will ride her bike to Craft C

offee;
therefore, Caitlyn will either walk or get a ride with
someone else.

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Conjunctive Adverbs

accordingly

also

besides

consequently

for example

furthermore

hence

henceforth

however

in addition

indeed

instead

likewise

meanwhile

moreover

nevertheless

otherwise

so

still

then

therefore

thus

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Complex Sentences
Compound sentences comprise two (or more)
independent clausestwo subject-predicate word
groups that can stand alone by themselves as
sentences. Complex sentences consist of at least
independent clause and at least one dependent
clausea subject-predicate word group than
cannot stand along by itself because it is introduced
by a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun.

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Dependent Clauses
Dependent clauses are subject-predicate word
groups that act as a single part of speecheither
an adjective, adverb, or nounin a complex
sentence.

Dependent clauses never contain the main of the

sentence; the independent clause carries the main
idea. Always identify the independent clause first,
then the function of the dependent clause.

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Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that
function as an adverb in a sentence or independent
clause. Adverb clauses are also referred to as
subordinate clauses.

Review: Adverbs modify not only verbs but also

adjectives and other adverbs. Just like single-word
adverbs, adverb clauses will answer one of the
adverb questions: When? Where? Why? How?
Under what conditions? To what extent?

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Adverb Clauses
Ex: When Jo submitted her column, Alaina edited it.

Ex: The board will not approve construction of a

new dorm until the money has been raised.

Ex: England entered World War II after Germany

invaded Poland.

When, until, and after are subordinate

conjunctions.

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Subordinate Conjunctions
cause, effect

as, because, since, so, so that, in order that

condition

if, even if, if only, unless

contrast

although, even though, despite

comparison

as if, as though, than, whereas, while

choice

rather than, than, whether

sequence

after, as, as long as, before, once, since, until,

when, whenever, while

space

where, wherever

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Punctuation Rule
When an adverb clause precedes the independent
clause, you must separate the clauses with a
comma.

You do not need a comma when the adverb clause

follows the independent clause.