ordinate. Each clause must contain a subject and a finite
verb. Each sentence must contain at least one main clause. If
there is only one clause in a sentence, it is a main clause
and the sentence is a simple sentence. Remember that you
cannotuse a comma to separate two main clauses unless
you have started your sentence with a conjunction. Use a
co-ordinating conjunction to join them or separate them
using a full stop.
Linking main clauses
To join two main clauses to form a compound sentence, you
will have to use one of the co-ordinating conjunctions, ‘and’,
‘but’, ‘or’. The main clauses can consist of only a subject and
a finite verb or they can be expanded with extra words or
phrases.
(It was very quiet) and (there was a strange atmosphere).The two bracketed main clauses are linked by the co-
ordinating conjunction ‘and’. The following sentence has
three main clauses.
(She tried to get up) but (her legs were shaking) and (they
would not support her).The conjunction ‘but’ separates the first two main clauses.
The final clause ‘they would not support her’ is introduced
by ‘and’. The pronoun ‘they’ could have been left out as it
would have been ‘understood’.
... her legs were shaking and would not support her.
VARYING YOUR SENTENCES / 53