A compound sentence has two or more clauses of equal importance.

Study the example given below.

The cradle was put into a small drawer of a cabinet and the drawer was placed upon a hanging shelf for fear of rats.

The sentence given above has two clauses:

1. The cradle was put into a small drawer of a cabinet

2. The drawer was placed upon a hanging shelf for fear of rats

Both clauses have the same degree of importance and they are connected by the conjunction ‘and’. Such clauses are called co-ordinate clauses.

A compound sentence has two or more co-ordinate clauses connected by a joining word like ‘and’ or ‘but’.

A list of conjunctions used in compound sentences (coordinating conjunctions) is given below. They have been grouped according to their meaning. It should be noted that some coordinating conjunctions have two parts. Examples are: neither…nor and not only…but also

List of coordinating conjunctions

• and, both…and, not only…but also, as well as
• but, yet
• or, either…or, neither…nor
• so, for

The adverbs therefore, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, otherwise, still, consequently etc., are also used in compound sentences. Note that they are not conjunctions and hence they cannot connect two clauses. They merely suggest a connection between two ideas. They should be preceded by a semicolon.

An example is given below.

You should get your license renewed at once; otherwise, you will be fined.