Lesson video

Hello and welcome to this lesson, Compound Sentences: Three Ways for Coordination.

Our learning outcome for today is you can use each of the three coordinating conjunctions.

And our key words to help us get there are here.

My turn, your turn.

Simple sentence.

Main clause.

Compound sentence.

Coordinating conjunction.

Purpose.

Great job.

Some tricky words there, some new terms. Let's have a look at their definitions.

A simple sentence is a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense.

A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.

A compound sentence is a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word.

A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two main clauses to form a compound sentence.

Something's purpose is its function or job.

Our lesson outline today looks like this.

We are going to start by looking at compound sentences and then we are going to look at three different coordinating conjunctions.

Let's start with compound sentences.

Let's listen to some sentences.

Horses have very fast reflexes and they have excellent hearing.

Horses breathe through their noses but they cannot breathe through their mouths.

Foals can walk within a few hours of being born or they would be in danger of predators.

All of these sentences are about two ideas.

In the first sentence, horses have very fast reflexes and they have excellent hearing.

In the second sentence, horses breathe through their noses but they cannot breathe through their mouths.

In the third sentence, foals can walk within a few hours of being born or they would be in danger of predators.

Let's look at these sentences again and have a look at the words which I have made purple.

All of these are compound sentences.

They're compound sentences for many reasons.

The first is that they are made of two ideas.

And the second reason why they're compound sentences is because they contain these important purple words: and, but, and or.

We'll come back to those later on in the lesson.

A compound sentence is formed of at least two main clauses joined with a special type of joining word.

Here is main.

Main makes complete sense all by itself and main contains a verb.

In a compound sentence, there is a first main clause and a second main clause joined with a special type of joining word.

Main joining word main equals compound sentence.

True or false.

Let's check what you've learned so far.

A compound sentence has two main clauses.

Is that true or false? You're right, it's true.

A compound sentence is about two ideas and each idea is presented as a main clause.

Great job.

Let's listen to some more compound sentences.

Hammerhead sharks can swim sideways and they can tan in the sun.

Hammerhead sharks have excellent vision but they cannot see in front of them.

You must be prepared when you go diving with sharks or you could be hurt.

All of these compound sentences have two equally important ideas, each presented as a main clause.

Each main clause in a compound sentence is an equally important idea.

They would weigh the same if we put them on some grammar scales.

So let's check.

What does a compound sentence always contain? A, an exclamation mark, B, a list of nouns, C, at least two main clauses, or D, at least two ideas of equal weight.

Which of these apply to a compound sentence? You're right, at least two main clauses are always found in a compound sentence and they are always two ideas of equal weight.

Great job.

So let's practise what you've learned so far.

Your first task is to fill in the boxes to make a compound sentence equation using words or these symbols.

Off you go.

Great job.

And here is how I filled in my boxes.

Main joining word main equals compound sentence.

Great work everyone.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson today, learning about the three different coordinating conjunctions.

Now before we learn what a coordinating conjunction is, we need to know what any conjunction is.

Because, or, so, and, that, but, these are all examples of conjunctions.

Any word that joins is called a conjunction.

And I really like this image of a little brick to help me remember that any word that joins is called a conjunction.

Some conjunctions join words together and some join clauses together.

Let's listen to some conjunctions working hard in some sentences.

I'd enjoy going diving because I know lots about underwater nature.

You do not like sharks or whales.

They love the vast ocean so they should watch the documentary.

There are colourful corals and beautiful sea anemone.

Now these conjunctions are all doing different things in each of these sentences.

Remember some conjunctions join words together and some conjunctions join clauses together.

So let's check.

Which of these are true about conjunctions? Conjunctions, A, are the words that start commands.

Conjunctions, B, are groups of letters at the end of root words.

Conjunctions, C, can join words together.

Or conjunctions, D, can join clauses together.

Which are true about conjunctions? You're right, conjunctions can join words together and conjunctions can join clauses together.

Great job.

One special type of conjunction is the coordinating conjunction.

It's used and found in a compound sentence.

A coordinating conjunction joins together the two main clauses in a compound sentence.

Here's my first main clause.

Here's my second main clause.

My joining word is called a coordinating conjunction.

It joins the two main clauses together to make a compound sentence.

Let's check.

True or false? Coordinating conjunctions join two words together.

Is that true or false? You're right, it's false.

Coordinating conjunctions join two main clauses together in a compound sentence.

They don't join words, they join main clauses.

Great job everyone.

There are three coordinating conjunctions.

These are the three that are most frequently found written and said in English.

And.

But.

Or.

Good job.

Here's and working hard to join two main clauses in a compound sentence.

I ran quickly to the shop and I bought an apple.

Let's have a look at but working hard.

I walked slowly to the shop but it was closed.

And let's have a look at or.

I want to go to Spain or I want to go to Italy.

Each of the coordinating conjunctions in my examples are joining two main clauses.

Now and has a special purpose.

Remember, purpose was one of our key words.

It means someone or something's function or job.

And coordinating conjunction is great for building on.

We went for a magical woodland walk and the weather was calm.

Here, the coordinating conjunction and joins together two main clauses and it builds on the information.

The second main clause, the weather was calm, builds on from the first main clause, we went for a magical woodland walk.

Let's see it working again.

We arrived at the restaurant and we sat down at our table.

The second main clause joins on and builds on from the first main clause.

And here's another example.

The weather was beautiful and everyone looked happy.

The second main clause builds on from the the first main clause.

The weather was beautiful and everyone was happy is a compound sentence.

Our second coordinating conjunction is but, and but has a different purpose to and.

But is very useful when we want to give a positive and a negative.

Let's have a look at but working hard in this compound sentence.

We went for a magical woodland walk but the weather was stormy.

Here, my two main clauses are a positive main clause next to a negative main clause joined together with but coordinating conjunction.

Let's have a look at another example.

We arrived at the restaurant but there was no space to sit down.

Here, but coordinating conjunction joins together a positive and a negative main clause.

The weather was beautiful, but everyone seemed sad.

Again, but coordinating conjunction is joining a positive main clause to a negative main clause.

The weather was beautiful, a positive main clause, but everyone seemed sad.

This is another example of a compound sentence.

Now or is our final coordinating conjunction and it has a different purpose to and and but.

Or is great when we want to give a second main clause for an option or an effect.

I'll wear a coat on our woodland walk or I will feel cold.

Here, the second main clause, I will feel cold, is the effect of the first main clause, I'll wear a coat on our woodland walk.

We must take a picnic or we will be hungry.

The second main clause, we will be hungry, is the effect of the first main clause, we must take a picnic.

Would you like sandwiches or would you prefer tortilla? The second main clause, would you prefer tortilla, is the option to the first main clause, would you like sandwiches.

Let's see it again.

We must take a picnic, there's my first main clause, or, there's my coordinating conjunction, we will be hungry, there's my second main clause that is the effect of the first main clause.

And this is another example of a compound sentence.

So let's check your understanding of coordinating conjunctions so far.

I'd like you to match the coordinating conjunction, and, but, or, to its purpose.

Which one is for a positive and a negative, which one is for an option or an effect, and which one is for building on? And is for building on.

But is for a positive and a negative.

Or is for an option or an effect.

Great job.

Now I'd like you to put this learning into practise.

Using and, write a compound sentence about a forest.

Remember, you need to include two main clauses and your second main clause needs to build on from your first main clause.

Think of your first main clause, then build with a second main clause.

Remember, both ideas in your sentence must be main clauses.

Off you go.

Next, I'd like you to check your sentence.

When you read it back, does your sentence include two main clauses? Does it include and? Does the second clause build on the first clause? Read it back, check it carefully, and edit if you need to.

Great job everyone.

Here are some examples I wrote for you.

The tall trees stood proudly over the forest floor and the sun's beams shone brightly.

The second main clause builds on from the first main clause.

Let's have a look at the second example.

A joyful sun rose high in the sky and the trees leaves began to brighten.

Again, the second main clause builds on from the first.

Great job everyone.

For your next task I'd like you to use but as the coordinating conjunction to write a compound sentence about the same forest.

Now remember, you still need to include two main clauses, but this time you need to use but to give a positive main clause next to a negative main clause.

So think first what's your positive main clause going to be, what's your negative main clause going to be, and join them with but.

Off you go.

Next, I'd like you to check your sentence.

Does it include two main clauses? Does it include but? Does it give a positive idea and a negative idea? Read your sentence back, check it carefully, and edit where you need to.

Great job.

And here are some example sentences I wrote for you.

The tall trees stood proudly over the forest floor but one was about to fall down down.

That's my second negative main clause next to my first positive main clause.

Let's have a look at the second example.

A joyful sun rose high in the sky but it wouldn't stay sunny for long.

My second main clause, it wouldn't stay sunny for long, is a negative main clause and it comes after my first main clause, a joyful sun rose high in the sky, which is positive.

So but is joining together a positive and a negative main clause.

Well done all of you.

Let's move to the final task today.

Using or this time as your coordinating conjunction, write me another compound sentence about the same forest.

Now remember, or works exactly the same as and and but in that it joins two main clauses, but this time or needs to give an option or an effect in your second main clause that works with your first main clause.

So think of your first main clause, say it out loud, then say or, coordinating conjunction, and think of your second main clause that can join as an option or an effect.

Next, I'd like you to check your sentence.

Does it include two main clauses? Does it include or? And does it give an option or an effect in the second clause that joins to your first main clause? Read your sentence back, check it carefully, and edit where you need to.

Great job everyone.

And here are some example sentences.

You must wear sensible shoes in the forest or you could trip.

Here, my second main C clause is giving an effect to my first main clause.

And in my second sentence, I will apply sun cream or my skin could burn.

Again, my second main clause is giving an effect to my first main clause.

So or in both of those examples is working correctly as a coordinating conjunction.

Wow, what a lot of learning we have done today.

Well done.

We've looked at compound sentences and three ways for coordination.

Let's summarise what we learned.

Compound sentences are formed of at least two main clauses.

A coordinating conjunction joins two main clauses.

There are three coordinating conjunctions, and, but, or, and different coordinating conjunctions have different purposes in compound sentences.

Brilliant work.

Well done.