Compound Sentence Quiz!

Are you ready for your quiz? Can you create compound sentences with the sentence pairs given below? Use either of the following:

1. A semicolon (with a complete sentence on the left and a complete sentence on the right)

2. A comma-coordinating conjunction between two complete sentences (,for/,and/,nor/,but/,or/,yet/,so---FANBOYS)

a. Writing with compound sentences is important. It is a skill that many people do not have.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence. You have to combine them properly.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions. The acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma. A semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

e. A comma indicates a pause. A semicolon indicates a small stop.




Here are some suggested answers for the quiz:

a. Writing with compound sentences is important; it is a skill that many people do not have.

a. Writing with compound sentences is important, yet it is a skill that many people do not have.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence, but you have to combine them properly.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence, yet you have to combine them properly.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence; you have to combine them properly.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions, and the acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions; the acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.


d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma, but a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma, yet a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma; a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

e. A comma indicates a pause, but a semicolon indicates a small stop.

e. A comma indicates a pause, and a semicolon indicates a small stop.

e. A comma indicates a pause; a semicolon indicates a small stop.

Punctuation Puzzle: They did not object and thus the area was named the Bermuda Triangle.

PUNCTUATION PUZZLE: How would you punctuate this sentence? (See comments for my suggestions.)

They did not object and thus the area was named the Bermuda Triangle.

The first thing that stands out to me is the CS (complete sentence) on the left of the coordinating conjunction (cc) and the complete sentence on the right of the coordinating conjunction. 

So place a comma before the coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence: They did not object, and thus the area was named the Bermuda Triangle.

Secondly, there is a word that is called by many different names in grammar terms: thus. We call it a conjunctive adverb (an adverb that joins). 

Conjunctive adverbs within sentences are always surrounded by punctuation marks. In this case, the conjunctive adverb is dropped into the sentence (and can be plucked out and the sentence will still remain a sentence), so there should be a comma on each side of it. You can also HEAR this comma: They did not object, and, thus, the area was named the Bermuda Triangle. 

I would punctuate it like this--They did not object, and, thus, the area was named the Bermuda Triangle. 

However, when my older children were little, I read aloud to them three to five hours a day. Commas show voice inflection and fall, so they are especially near and dear to my heart when reading orally to my kids through the years. Are you comma crazy?