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compound sentence vs. complex sentence

compound sentence

noun

compound sentences plural

  1. a sentence containing two or more coordinate independent clauses, usually joined by one or more conjunctions, but no dependent clause, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and (conjunction) the rain fell (independent clause).

complex sentence

noun

complex sentences plural

  1. a sentence containing one or more dependent clauses in addition to the main clause, as When the bell rings (dependent clause), walk out (main clause).