EXERCISES ON COMPOUND SENTENCES

A. Join these simple sentences to make compound sentences. Use the connector in the
brackets. Mind the punctuation.
1. Tom phoned. He left a message. (and)
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2. Marley washed the car. He didn’t polish it. (but)
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3. I can leave now. I can stay for another hour. (either-or)
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4. Jim built his own house. He designed it himself. (not only-but also)
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5. He doesn’t have a pen. He doesn’t have paper. (neither-nor)
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6. The animals ran wild and increased in number. They were dangerous to control. (for)
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7. No one was in when we called. We left a message. (so)
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8. She goes to school. She works part-time in a fast food restaurant. (both-and)
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9. The letter has been lost. The postman has delivered it to the wrong address. (or)
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10. Jane was a successful career woman. Her mother wanted her to be a housewife. (yet)
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B. Join these simple sentences to make compound sentences. Use whatever connector
you think is appropriate.
1. I don’t know what happened to him. I don’t care.
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2. Barbara is fluent in Japanese. She is also fluent in French.
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3. I personally do not like snakes. I personally do not like bats. I don’t want to see them
disappear.
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4. The old lady was nervous. She wasn’t used to strangers calling late at night.
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C. Combine the following ideas to form a compound sentence with an appropriate

connector on the list

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS TRANSITION EXPRESSIONS

however in fact
therefore on the contrary
otherwise on the other hand
moreover as a result
nevertheless in the meantime
furthermore at the same time
hence
then
besides
accordingly
consequently
likewise
thus

1. He is not a stupid person. He is quite intelligent.

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2. Olga moved to New York. Her mother stayed in Boston.
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3. You have disregarded my advice. I will not help you another time.
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4. The situation is quite serious. It is a crisis.
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5. Too little sleep can impair your health. Too much sleep is a symptom of a disorder.
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D. Make compound sentences. Use the coordinate conjunctions (and, or, but, so) that
show the relationships clearly, and use correct punctuation.

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1. We tried to make plane reservations for our vacation. It was too late.
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2. We could not get plane reservations. We discussed traveling by car.
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3. It would be less comfortable to travel by car. We would not be able to spend as much
time at our destination.
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E. Make compound sentences. Use the coordinate conjunctions (not only…but also,
either…or, yet, for) that show the relationships clearly, and use correct punctuation.
1. David will make his famous popcorn. He will bring soft drinks.
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2. Each person will bring something. It would be too expensive for one person to provide
refreshments for everyone.
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3. Many people volunteers to bring food. Not many offered to bring drinks.
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F. Make compound sentences using semicolons. Show the meaning relationships clearly
by using in other words, on the contrary, in that way, or on the other hand
1. My friends and I decided to watch the championships game together. We could visit
and not miss the most important game of the season.
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2. We could stay home to watch the game comfortably on TV. We could go out to the
stadium to catch the excitement.
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3. We decided to stay home. We chose comfort over excitement.
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4. We did not have as much fun. We did not have cold feet and hands.
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G. Write one sentence joining the two ideas with a correlative conjunction (both…and,
not only … but also, either…or, and neither…nor)
1. Julia Perez isn’t from Spain. She isn’t from Mexico.
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2. Someone just bought a new car, but I can’t remember who. May be it was Maia. May
be it was Mey Chan.
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3. Pandora lost her passport. She lost her driver’s license too.
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4. We have an essay due next Tuesday. We have a grammar test next Tuesday.
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5. Mia doesn’t like to cook. She doesn’t like to eat out in restaurants.
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6. Jennifer likes cats. She likes cocker spaniels.
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7. Chocolate can make some people hyperactive. It can keep people awake at night.
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H. Join these simple sentences to make compound sentences.

1. I can leave now. I can stay for another hour.
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2. The taxi stopped at the station. Two men got out of it.
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3. The old lady was nervous. She wasn’t used to strangers calling late at night.
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4. I don’t know what happened to him. I don’t care.
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I. Combine each of the following pairs of simple sentences so as to form one compound
sentence. List all possible alternatives.
1. Many people don’t drink coffee. Many people don’t drink alcohol.
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2. Barbara is fluent in Japanese. She is also fluent in French.
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3. I’m sorry to say that James has no patience. He has no sensitivity to others.
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4. I have given up using a telephone. What is more, I have given my typewriter away.
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5. George shouted a friendly greeting to me. Then he came over and shook me warmly by
the hand.
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6. The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world. The blue whale is the heaviest
mammal in the world.
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7. I personally do not like snakes. I personally do not like bats. But I don’t want to see them
disappear.
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8. Some species spend most of their time eating. When they are not eating they are
sleeping.
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