Which of the following statements about a compound sentence is true?

Which of the following statements about a compound sentence is true?

• A. It contains mainly dependent clauses
• B. It can stand alone as a complete thought
• C. It consists of only one independent clause
• D. It joins two or more independent clauses

Answer: (D)

A compound sentence is defined by its structure, specifically its ability to join two or more independent clauses. Each independent clause within a compound sentence can express a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. This structural characteristic allows for the coordination of ideas, showcasing the relationship between two thoughts that are of equal importance. The focus on independent clauses is crucial, as they can be combined using coordinating conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "or," as well as by punctuation, such as a semicolon. This construction is what distinguishes compound sentences from other sentence types, such as complex sentences, which primarily contain dependent clauses. The clarity and intent behind combining independent clauses make the compound sentence a versatile tool in writing, enhancing the cohesion of ideas.

A compound sentence is defined by its structure, specifically its ability to join two or more independent clauses. Each independent clause within a compound sentence can express a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. This structural characteristic allows for the coordination of ideas, showcasing the relationship between two thoughts that are of equal importance.

The focus on independent clauses is crucial, as they can be combined using coordinating conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "or," as well as by punctuation, such as a semicolon. This construction is what distinguishes compound sentences from other sentence types, such as complex sentences, which primarily contain dependent clauses. The clarity and intent behind combining independent clauses make the compound sentence a versatile tool in writing, enhancing the cohesion of ideas.