​We saw in sentence structure that a compound sentence is two (or more) independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. So a compound sentence is like two or more simple sentences added together. A compound sentence does not contain any dependent clauses.

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• I like coffee. Mary likes tea. → I like coffee, and Mary likes tea.

• Mary went to work. John went to the party. I went home. → Mary went to work, but John went to the party, and I went home.

• Our car broke down. We came last. → Our car broke down; we came last.

​Joining Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions

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Usually, we join independent clauses with one of the seven coordinating conjunctions.

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​The term coordinating conjunction sounds complicated, but in fact there are only seven of them and they are all short, one-syllable words: For—And—Nor—But—Or—Yet—So — remember them with the mnemonic FANBOYS.