What You Need to Know

A simple sentence has one main idea (e.g. I like apples.). A compound sentence joins two simple sentences using a conjunction like and, but, or or. For example: I like apples and I like oranges. The conjunction shows how the two ideas are connected.

Key Concepts

AND

Adds ideas together

BUT

Shows a contrast or difference

OR

Shows a choice between ideas

SO

Shows a result or consequence

AND: I ate breakfast and I drank orange juice.

BUT: I wanted to play outside but it was raining.

OR: You can have a sandwich or you can have a wrap.

SO: It was cold so I put on my jumper.

Key Vocabulary

Compound Sentence

Two simple sentences joined together with a conjunction, e.g. I ran fast but I was still late.

Conjunction

A joining word that connects clauses or sentences, e.g. and, but, or, so.

Simple Sentence

A sentence with one main idea, e.g. The dog barked.

Clause

A group of words with a subject and verb. A compound sentence has two clauses joined together.

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

Which word best joins these two sentences? "I was tired. ___ I went to bed."

but so or neither

Question 2

Which sentence is a compound sentence?

The cat sat on the mat. Running fast. I like swimming but I don't like the cold water. Blue sky above.

Question 3

Which conjunction shows a contrast or difference?

and so or but

Question 4

Join these sentences with a conjunction: "We can go to the park. We can stay home."

We can go to the park or we can stay home. We can go to the park and we can stay home. We can go to the park but we can stay home. We can go to the park so we can stay home.

Compound Sentences