What is a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is defined as a sentence that consists of at least two independent clauses connected by a conjunction, such as "and," "but," or "or." Independent clauses are complete thoughts that can stand alone as sentences but, when combined, they provide additional information or create a more complex idea. This structure allows for greater richness in writing, as it enables the connection of related thoughts or contrasting ideas.

For example, the sentence "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain" showcases two independent clauses ("I wanted to go for a walk" and "it started to rain") connected by the conjunction "but." This demonstrates how compound sentences can enhance the flow and depth of writing by linking ideas together.

In contrast, a sentence with only one clause would be simple, while a sentence that asks a question is simply an interrogative form, and a sentence that expresses a complete thought could refer to a broader range of sentence types, including simple and compound.