MEETING X

(Structure and Written Expressions)

SENTENCE WITH MULTIPLE CLAUSES

A. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to:

1. Understand the concept of sentence with multiple

clauses;
2. Identify sentence with multiple clauses; and
3. Answer the question about sentence with multiple
clauses in TOEFL

B. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION

1. Compound sentences with connector “and, but, or,

so, yet”

Before proceeding to talk about multiple clause, a

discussion about the distinction between sentences and
clauses must be made. A clause, in English, is
grammatical unit that consist of one (1) Subject and one
(1) Verb. Meanwhile, a sentence is grammatical unit
comprise of one or more clauses.

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 Understanding the difference between a sentence
and a clause is important and will and how clauses
combine to form sentence is important in order to develop
a more sophisticated writing skill. This is because
sentences with multiple clauses allow the integration of
several ideas into a single grammatical unit which makes
writing more compact and clearer.

Many sentences in English have more than 1 clause

(clause):

 I am learning. (1 clause)
 Mother is cooking, and father is working in the
garden. (2 clauses)
 The girl who saw me was my neighbor. (2
clauses)

The first sentence only has 1 clause while the last

two sentences have 2 clauses the first is 'mom is
cooking' and 'dad is working in the garden.' The second
is 'that girl is my neighbor' and 'who saw me.' From the
example above, we can conclude that the clause is part
of the sentence or the sentence itself which has one
subject and one verb. Generally, it means that the clause
is a word that contains a subject and a verb.

In this meeting, you will learn about the forms of

coordinating conjunctions and their use in sentences.
Coordinate connectors are used to connect one clause to
another. Examples of common coordinate conjunctions
are: and, but, or, so, yet (but). Note the previous use of

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 the comma. Table 1 below shows the Coordinating
Conjunctions.

Table 1 Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

And

Or

But

So

Yet

In order to form a multi-clauses sentence, two

clauses must correctly joined by placing a conjunction
and a comma between the two clauses. Below are the
examples of connecting two clauses with coordinating
conjunctions to for a compound sentence.

Example

Andy is singing, and Cindy is dancing.

Andy is tall, but Cindy is short
Andy must write the letter, or Cindy will write it.
Andy told a joke, so Cindy laughed.
Andy is tired, yet Cindy is not going to sleep.

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 Mother is cooking, and father is working in the garden.

father is working in
Mother is cooking and
the garden

S V Coordinate S V

(main clauses) connectors (main clauses)

In compound sentence, no clause is subordinate to

another, hence all the clauses in a compound sentence
are main clauses.

After undertanding the concept, let’s ceck the

example below illustrates how the coordinate connector
is used as a question in the TOEFL Structure test.

Example of Paper based TOEFL

A power failure occurred, _____ the lamps went out.

a) then
b) so
c) later
d) next

From the sentence above, we can see that the

sentence has two clauses 'a power failure occurred'
and 'the lamps went out'. So the sentence needs a
coordinate connector to connect the two clauses. From

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 the available answer choices, there is only 1 form of
connector, namely so. So the best answer is b) so.

Example of Paper based TOEFL

The rain clouds can be seen in the distance, but no has fallen.
a b c d
a) The rain
b) can be seen
c) but
d) no

From the sentence above, we can see that the

sentence has a coordinate connector ‘but’ connect the
two clauses. Remember In compound sentence, no
clause is subordinate to another, hence all the clauses in
a compound sentence are main clauses So the second
sentence needs subject. From the available answer
choices, there is only 1 form of underlined word that need
to be fix by adding the subject after coordinate connector
‘but’ , namely no adding by rain (subject). So the best
answer is d) no. the correct form is ‘The rain clouds can
be seen in the distance, but no no rain has fallen.’

2. Parallel Structure with coordinate connectors

The function of the equal conjunction (and, but, or)

is to combine the same statements together into a parallel
structure. This conjunction can combine a noun (noun),
verb (verb), adjective (adjective), phrase (phrase),

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 subordinate clause, or main sentence. Each can only be
combined if the shape is the same.

a. Examples of two nouns that are combined with a

coordinating conjunction:
 She is not a teacher but a lawyer.
 You can choose from activities such as hiking
and kayaking.
 I need to talk to the manager or the assistant
manager.
b. Examples of two verbs (verb) that are combined with
a coordinating conjunction:
 He only eats and sleeps when he takes a
vacation.
 She invites us to her home but never talks
with us.
 You can stay home or go to the movies with
us.
c. Examples of two adjectives (adjectives) combined
with equal conjunctions:
 My boss is sincere and nice.
 The exam that he gave was short but difficult.
 Class can be interesting or boring.
d. Examples of two phrases (phrases) combined with
equal conjunctions:
 There are students in the classroom and in
front of the building.
 The papers are on my desk or in the drawer.

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  The checks will be ready not at noon but at
1:00.
e. Examples of two clauses (clauses) joined by an equal
conjunction:
 They are not interested in what you say or
what you do.
 I am here because I have to be and because
I want to be.
 Mr. Brown likes to go home early, but his wife
prefers to stay late.

Parallel Structure with coordinate connectors

Class can be interesting or boring.

and
( same structure )
(same structure) but

or

There are students in the classroom, in front of the building

and in the lab

and
(same
(same structure), but
(same structure), structure)
or

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 After undertanding the concept, let’s ceck the
example below illustrates how the coordinate connector
is used as a question in the TOEFL Structure test.

Example of Paper based TOEFL

The speaker introduced himself, told several interesting anecdotes,

a b
and finishing with emotional plea.
c d
a) The speaker
b) several
c) finishing
d) emotional

From the sentence above, we can see that the

sentence has a coordinate connector ‘and connect the
two clauses. Remember In Parallel Structure with
coordinate connectors sentence the clauses are need to
use the same stucture, the verb in the first and the second
stucture used the same structure : introduced, told but
the third verb in structure third structure is finishing, it
should be finished. So the best answer is c) finishing
the correct form is ‘The speaker introduced himself, told
several interesting anecdotes, and finishing finished with
emotional plea.’

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 3. Parallel structure with paired conjunctions

The Paired conjunctions, such as both.... and,

either... or, neither.... nor, and not only ... but also, used
to form parallel structures.

 I know both where you went and what you did.

 Either Mark or Susan has the book.
 The ticket its are neither in my pocket nor in my
purse.
 He is not only an excellent student but also
outstanding athlete.

The following is an example of creating a parallel
structure that went wrong, and should be corrected:

He wants either to go by train or by plane*.

This sentence is wrong because 'to go by train' is

not parallel to "by plane". This sentence structure will be
correct if you use the following ways.

He wants either to go by train or to go by plane. Or

He wants to go either by train or by plane. Or

He wants to go by either train or plane.

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 Parallel Structure with paired conjunctions

He wants to go either by train or

by plane.

both
and
( same
(same
either or structure
structure)
)
nor
neither
but also
not
only

After undertanding the concept, let’s ceck the

example below illustrates how the coordinate connector
is used as a question in the TOEFL Structure test.

Example of Paper based TOEFL

Both the tailor or the laundress could fix the damage to the dress.
a b c d
a) the tailor
b) or
c) could fix
d) the dresss

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 From the sentence above, we can see that the
sentence has paired conjunctions ‘both’ but not with the
correct form, ‘or’ in the question should be replace by
‘and’. So the best answer is b) or the correct form is
‘Both the tailor or and the laundress could fix the damage
to the dress.’

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C. EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Compound sentences with connector “and,

but, or, so, yet”

1. Among human chromosomes, the Y chromosome is

unusual ____ most of the chromosome does not
participate in meiotic recombination.

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 (A) in

(B) so

(C) and

(D) in that

2. ______ or refinanced, the lender will generally require

setting up an escrow account to ensure the payment of
property taxes and home owner’s insurance.

(A) A home is

(B) A home is bought

(C) When a home

(D) When a home is bought

3. Among human chromosomes, the Y chromosome is

unusual ______ most of the chromosome does not
participate in meiotic recombination.

(A) in

(B) so

(C) and

(D) in that

4. The government was overthrown in a

revolution, ________ the king has not returned to his
homeland.

(A) in

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 (B) so

(C) or

(D) but

5. Case studies are the target of much skepticism in the

scientific community, ______ used extensively by
numerous researches.

(A) they are

(B) are

(C) yet they

(D) yet they are

Exercise 2: Parallel Structure with coordinate

connectors

1. In this climate, farmers grow stone fruits such as

______.

(A) peach, apricot, plum

(B) peaches, apricots, a plum

(C) peaches, apricots, and plums

(D) Peaching, eating apricot, and plum

2. Students must conduct their laboratory experiments

accurately and ______.

(A) in a safe manner

(B) with safety

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 (C) safely

(D) Saving

3. Running, walking, and ______ are my favorite forms of

exercise.

(A) to dance

(B) to go dancing

(C) Dancing

(D) Dance

4. Students must conduct their laboratory experiments

accurately and ______.

(A) in a safe manner

(B) with safety

(C) safely

(D) with safely

5. It takes one hour or more to drive to the city depending

on weather and ______.

(A) traffic

(B) how much traffic there is

(C) if traffic is heavy

(D) Also get traffic

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 Exercise 3: Parallel structure with paired conjunctions

1. Their European tour includes_______ Germany and

Austria but also Switzerland

(A) Not only

(B) As well as

(C) And

(D) both

2. The soldiers approached the enemy camp___________

(A) Slowly and silently

(B) Slow and silently

(C) Slowly and silent

(D) Slowed and silently

3. Her children have both American cousins and

____________

(A) Spanish one

(B) She is

(C) Or Spanish

(D) But also Spanish

4. While Mario was sleeping, both his bag and

______disappeared.

(A) Its contents

(B) Book and pen

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 (C) Or content

(D) Also book

5. The legislation neither resolves the financial crisis nor

______ consumers.

(A) is helping

(B) helps

(C) has helped

(D) helping

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 Exercise 4: Compound sentences with connector “and,
but, or, so, yet

1. He’s seventy-two, yet he still swims, runs and playing football

regularly.
A B C D
2. Vitamin C is necessary for the prevention and cures of scurvy

A B C D

3. The quality of the print was not good, or I changed the typewriter
ribbon

A B C

4. A power failure occurred, or the lamps went out.

A B C D

5. They are trying to sell their house, so has been on the market
for two months

A B C
D

Exercise 5: Parallel Structure with coordinate

connectors

1. Blood pressure is measured by feeling the pulse and

apply a force to the arm

A
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 B C D

2. The moon has no atmosphere, no air, and no watery

A B C D

3. Ballpoint pens are less versatile but more population than

fountain pens

A B C
D

4. Demand, beauty, durability, rare, and perfection of cutting

A B

determine the Value of gemstone

C D

5. The liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display (LCD) affect the

A B

polarized light so that it is either blocked and reflected by the

segments of the display.

C D

6. In 1862, the American Confederacy raised the Merrimack,

renamed it the

A B

Virginia, covered it with iron plates, and an outfit it when ten

guns

C D

7. Coal, petroleum, and natural gaseous are all fossil fuels.

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 A B C D

8. Most of Hemingway’s novels glorify heroic exploits such as

bullfighting or box

A B

C D

9. The coffee is too hot, too bitter, and too strength

A B C D

10. The leaves from the tree fell in the yard, in the pool, the
driveway, and on the Sidewalk

A B

C D

Exercise 6: Parallel structure with paired conjunctions

1. Riddles vary greatly in both grammatical and phonology

form

A B C
D

2. A 1971 U.S. government policy not only put warnings on

cigarette packs but

A
B

also banning television advertising of cigarettes.

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 C D

3. The Harvard Yard, which was Harvard’s original campus,

is still a major

A B
attraction for both students and visiting.
D

4. Either the counselor or becomes her secretary can help

you with that problem

A B C D

5. He not only passed the test but also receiving the highest
score in the class

A B C D

6. He married her neither for her ability to cook nor to clean

house

A B C D

7. He withdrew all the money not only from the checking

account but from the

A B C
D
saving account

8. John is an adventurous person who enjoys not only

skydiving but also goes

A B C

parasailing.

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 D

9. The play that we saw last night was not only rather
delightful but also

A B
C quite meaning.
D

10. Neither the teacher or the students are ready to leave

the classroom.

A B C D

D. REFERENCES

Frank, Marcella. 1972. Modern English. New Jersey: Prentice-

Hall.

Philips, Deborah. 2001. Longman Complete Course for

TOEFL Test. New York: Longman. Sharpe,

Pamelia J. Barron’s. 2004. How to Prepare for the TOEFL

(With Audio
CD). New York: Barron’s Educational Series.

Self-Teaching Unit. “Townson.edu”

<http://www.towson.edu/ows/module
parallel.htm> (10 February 2022)

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