Look at each place where two sentences are joined and compare the different methods used in English and Chinese.

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1 TWELFTH WEEK PAGE 1 COMPOUND SENTENCES I I. Two Ways to Join Sentences in English A. The COMPLEX SENTENCE--contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. (1) Three Kinds of Dependent Clauses (a) Adverb Clause (b) Adjective Clause (c) Noun Clause (2) A dependent clause CANNOT stand alone. It must be joined to a main clause to complete its meaning. B. The COMPOUND SENTENCE--two or more independent clauses (1) An independent clause CAN stand alone. Thus, it is very easy to separate the clauses in a compound sentence. II. WAYS TO MAKE COMPOUND SENTENCES IN ENGLISH A. You must note the differences between CHINESE and ENGLISH in the ways they join sentences. Ex. (A compound sentence joining three independent clauses) He was new to the city, and he had no business experience; therefore, it was difficult for him to find a job. 他是新來的, 對商業沒有經驗, 所以很難找到工作 Look at each place where two sentences are joined and compare the different methods used in English and Chinese. B. COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS Ex. He was new to the city, and he had no business experience... Independent Clause 1 Independent Clause 2 coordinate conjunction COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS include and, or, nor, but, for, so, and yet. For further information see pp in our textbook. AND INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + The comma tells us that two sentences are joined together at this point., + OR + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE NOR BUT FOR SO YET

2 NOTE that in the CHINESE 他是新來的, 對商業沒有經驗 we do NOT use a conjunction to join the two sentences, only a comma. This is very natural in Chinese, but it is a SERIOUS MISTAKE in English. In English we call this mistake a run-together sentence. PAGE 2 NOT CORRECT : He was new to the city, he had no business experience USING THE COMMA : (1) If the sentences being joined are VERY SHORT, it is possible to leave out the comma. Ex. The elevator door opened and he stepped out. (VERY SHORT=no other conjunctions, few modifiers, (2) Note the difference between no dependent clauses, no verbal phrases) (However, it is NOT POSSIBLE to leave out the conjunction) (a) a COMPOUND SENTENCE--two independent clauses joined together (b) a sentence with a COMPOUND PREDICATE--a predicate with TWO VERBS and no subject BETWEEN the verbs Ex. She opened the window and called for help. Subj. Verb 1 Verb 2 COMPOUND PREDICATE When a COORDINATE CONJUNCTION joins TWO VERBS, we do NOT use a COMMA with the conjunction. NOT CORRECT: She opened the window, and called for help. C. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS Ex. he had no business experience; therefore, it was difficult for him to find a job. Independent Clause 2 Independent Clause 3 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + ; + CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE NOTE : This kind of conjunction is an, so it can be placed in several positions within a sentence or clause. (1) A CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB can show the relationship between two sentences which are NOT JOINED. Ex. It was hot. Therefore, he took off his coat. It was hot. He, therefore, took off his coat. It was hot. He took off his coat, therefore.

3 (2) A CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB can also join two independent clauses in a COMPOUND SENTENCE. Ex. It was hot; therefore, he took off his coat. It was hot; he, therefore, took off his coat. It was hot; he took off his coat, therefore. PAGE 3 NOTE : Use of semicolon ( ; ). See (1) and (2) below. Use of commas. See (3) below. NOTE : (1) No matter where the is located, the semicolon ( ; ) is always placed where the first clause ends and the second clause begins. (2) You CANNOT use a comma in place of the semicolon. NOT CORRECT : He was tired, nevertheless, he continued studying. CORRECT : He was tired; nevertheless, he continued studying. (3) Depending on its position within the sentence or clause, the may have one or two commas used with it. See Examples above. (a) COMMAS show that the is emphasized. (b) NO COMMAS show that the is NOT emphasized. D. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COORDINATE CONJUNCTION AND THE CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB (1) COORDINATE CONJUNCTION: only one position--between the independent clauses CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB: several positions in the second clause (2) COORDINATE CONJUNCTION: uses a comma where the two clauses join CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB: uses a semicolon where the two clauses join (3) COORDINATE CONJUNCTION: limited range of meanings CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB: describes a great variety of relationships between the two sentences. SEE EXTRA HANDOUT. E. JOINING THREE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES INTO ONE SENTENCE (1) Use the same kind of conjunction at both joining points. This means that the relationships between the sentences are equal. Ex. Using coordinate conjunctions: Jim was late, and Bill didn t come, but John was there on time. Indep. Cl. 1 Indep. Cl. 2 Indep. Cl. 3 coordinate conjunction coordinate conjunction

4 PAGE 4 Ex. Using s: That is a good graduate school; however, the tuition is high; moreover, the Independent Clause 1 Indep. Cl. 2 climate is cold. Indep. Cl. 3 (2) Use one coordinate conjunction and one. This means that the two sentences joined by the coordinate conjunction are more closely related. Ex. He was new to the city, and he had no business experience; therefore, it Indep. Cl. 1 Independent Clause 2 coordinate conjunction was difficult for him to find a job. Independent clause 3 new to the city reason 1 AND no experience reason 2 THEREFORE difficult to find a job result NOT CORRECT : He was new to the city; moreover, he had no business experience Indep. Cl. 1 Independent Clause 2 so it was difficult for him to find a job. Independent Clause 3 coordinate conjunction This use of conjunctions does not correctly express the relationships between the sentences. F. USING A SEMICOLON ALONE TO JOIN TWO SENTENCES Ex. The machine s alarm was ringing; something was wrong. Independent Clause Indep. Cl. 2 NOTE: A SEMICOLON can be used WITHOUT A CONJUNCTION to join two sentences. However, there are two conditions for using this method. (1) The relationship between the sentences must be very clear and easy to understand even without a conjunction. 急迫 唐突 (2) A semicolon used alone usually expresses a very urgent or abrupt feeling.

5 In the example above, it is correct to use a semicolon alone to join the two clauses because it is very clear that the something wrong was the cause of the alarm s ringing. Also the sentence has a very urgent feeling--we must do something right away. PAGE 5 SUMMARY : (1) TO MAKE A COMPOUND SENTENCE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE +, + COORDINATE CONJUNCTION + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + ; + CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + ; + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (2) JOINING THREE INDEPENDENT SENTENCE INDEPENDENT + COORDINATE + INDEPENDENT + CONJUNCTIVE + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE 1 CONJUNCTION CLAUSE 2 ADVERB CLAUSE 3 more closely related INDEPENDENT + CONJUNCTIVE + INDEPENDENT + COORDINATE + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE 1 ADVERB CLAUSE 2 CONJUNCTION CLAUSE 3 more closely related