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Wysteria Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Simple or compound sentence?
I queued for over an hour at the counter but still could not get a ticket.
I did an exercise, and I thought this was a simple sentence since there is no comma before the "but", and there is only one subject. so far, for all the exercises I did, there should be a comma before "but". the answer for this question is compound sentence, as the pronoun "I" is ellipted.
can someone try to clear my confusion here?
I did an exercise, and I thought this was a simple sentence since there is no comma before the "but", and there is only one subject. so far, for all the exercises I did, there should be a comma before "but". the answer for this question is compound sentence, as the pronoun "I" is ellipted.
can someone try to clear my confusion here?
Top answer
A simple sentence is one that contains a subject and a verb. A compound sentence is one that contains two simple sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction. The example could be split into simple sentences: I queued for over an hour at the counter and (I) still could not get a ticket .
- A simple sentence is one that contains a subject and a verb.
- A compound sentence is one that contains two simple sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction.
- The example could be split into simple sentences: I queued for over an hour at the counter and (I) still could not get a ticket .
- So, it is a compound sentence.
- As for the comma, there should be one in that sentence before but .
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36 Answers
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A simple sentence is one that contains a subject and a verb. A compound sentence is one that contains two simple sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction. The example could be split into simple sentences:
I queued for over an hour at the counter
and
I queued for over an hour at the counter
and
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Hi, Rizzy,
Isn't it possible to consider it a simple sentence with a compound predicate?
I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich.
I went to the kitchen but found nothing to eat.
When would the comma not be needed?
Best wishes, - A.
Isn't it possible to consider it a simple sentence with a compound predicate?
I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich.
I went to the kitchen but found nothing to eat.
When would the comma not be needed?
Best wishes, - A.
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but the answer is compound sentence. without the comma, i thought it was a simple sentence. could it that the answer is wrong?
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Over the last several days, I have been researching this question, and this is what I have discovered: there is contradictory information everywhere!
According to some people, a compound sentence has to have its subjects explicitly stated. If that's the case, all the examples cited are simple sentences because none of them has both clausal subjects explicitly stated. According to others,
According to some people, a compound sentence has to have its subjects explicitly stated. If that's the case, all the examples cited are simple sentences because none of them has both clausal subjects explicitly stated. According to others,
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I have no problem with the comma analysis.
What continues to bother me is calling a simple sentence with a compound predicate: a compound sentence with the second subject elipsed, or elipted, or however one says it.
This seems like a slippery slope.
I went to the kitchen but found nothing to eat.
I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich.
What continues to bother me is calling a simple sentence with a compound predicate: a compound sentence with the second subject elipsed, or elipted, or however one says it.
This seems like a slippery slope.
I went to the kitchen but found nothing to eat.
I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich.
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You're all missing the crucial point: only one lexical verb is permitted per clause. The verbs queued, and get are lexical verbs, so there must be two clauses in this sentence. It doesn't matter about the subject in the second clause being understood rather than explicit; that's a perfectly normal construction (it's called reduction by ellipsis). A comma before but is usual,
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Ah yes, thank *** for the rules, which keep us all straight. Your point is enticing.
But can you please give me an example of a compound predicate which doesn't have at least two lexical verbs?
By the way, do you chose "lexical verbs" in order to allow "non-finite verbs"?
Best wishes, - A.
But can you please give me an example of a compound predicate which doesn't have at least two lexical verbs?
By the way, do you chose "lexical verbs" in order to allow "non-finite verbs"?
Best wishes, - A.
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COMPOUND SENTENCE
A compound sentence is a sentence which has 2 or more independent clauses, and which has a complete meaning. A clause is a sentence that exists in a sentence. The word 'independent' in an independent clause means that semantically the clause does not depend on another clause and / or that such a clause can stand by itself. Then, an independent clause is a clause which do
A compound sentence is a sentence which has 2 or more independent clauses, and which has a complete meaning. A clause is a sentence that exists in a sentence. The word 'independent' in an independent clause means that semantically the clause does not depend on another clause and / or that such a clause can stand by itself. Then, an independent clause is a clause which do
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Anonymous 'He (S) tested and debugged (P) the program (O) yesterday (adjunct).' is not a compound sentence, but it is a simple sentence because it has one S, one P with compound verb, and one O.Thanks, Dibyo. (reminds me of George Bush's nickname.)
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Hi Avangi
To answer your questions - firstly, I don't use the
AvangiAh yes, thank *** for the rules, which keep us all straight. Your point is enticing.Sorry about the delay in replying - UK election duties took priority!
But can you please give me an example of a compound predicate which doesn't have at least two lexical verbs?
To answer your questions - firstly, I don't use the
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