Sentence Patterns

Compound Sentence
Pattern II
 Pattern Two
• Compound Sentence with Elliptical Construction
– Subject Verb DO or SC; Subject , DO or
SC.

– Example
• The mother and son each had a goal; hers, educational; his,
recreational.
• For many of us, the new math teacher was a savior; for
others, a pain.
 Explanation
• Leave out the verb in the second clause
BECAUSE and ONLY IF it would
needlessly repeat the verb of the first
clause.
 Problem
• Not Parallel construction
– We like classical music; George, punk rock.
 Pattern Two
• The sentence must sound natural and have
a rhythmic balance.
• If it is awkward or unclear, it is not the
right time to use this pattern.
 Pattern Two Checkpoints
• Be sure each sentence really has 2
independent clauses in it, even though the
second one has an unexpressed verb or
other words
• Be sure that the verb omitted in the second
clauses matches exactly, in form and tense,
the verb in the first clause
 …continued…
• After the semicolon, if more than the verb
is left out, be sure the structure is still
parallel and the thought complete
• Use a semicolon if there is no conjunction;
if there is a conjunction, many writers use
a comma. A semicolon NEVER goes with
a coordinating conjunction.
 Pattern Three
• Compound sentence with explanatory statement
(clauses separated by a colon)
• General statement (idea): [an independent clause]
• specific statement (example). [an independent
clause]

• Example
– A lizard never worries about growing his tail: It can
always grow another.
– All agreed she was well qualified: She graduated
from Harvard with a 4.0 grade point average.
 Explanation
– This compound sentence is different in content
– The colon performs a special function: it
signals the reader that something explanatory
or important will follow, an expansion or
explanation of some idea vaguely expressed in
the first clause
– The first statement will contain a word or idea
that needs explaining; the second statement
will give some specific information or
example about that idea