This lesson is about ways to join simple clauses into longer, more complex sentences that are clear and comprehensible.

Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join two independent clauses. Place the conjunction between the clauses, and place a comma before it.

Grandmother lost her sight, but her hearing sharpened.

Note: A clause with a coordinating conjunction in front of it remains independent. That is, it is still a sentence. "But her hearing sharpened" is a perfectly correct sentence, regardless of whether it sounds beautiful or says much.

Subordinating conjunctions (after, although, as, because, before, if, since, that, unless, until, when, where, whether; which, while, who, whom, whose) also join clauses.

Grandmother's hearing sharpened because she lost her sight. Because Grandmother lost her sight, her hearing sharpened.

Note: A single clause that begins with one of these words is not a complete sentence. A subordinating conjunction magically transforms an independent clause into a dependent one, and dependent clauses are not sentences; they need independent clauses to lean on. "While her hearing sharpened" is a dependent clause and so is not a sentence. To turn it into a sentence, give it an independent clause to depend on:

Grandmother's sight failed, while her hearing sharpened.

Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause, but not before a concluding dependent clause, unless it is in contrast to the independent clause (as is this last clause).

Conjunctive adverbs (consequently, finally, furthermore, hence, however, moreover, nevertheless, similarly, then, therefore, thus) are yet another way to join independent clauses.

The conjunctive adverb goes between the two clauses it joins. Place a semicolon after the first independent clause and then the conjunctive adverb with a comma after it.

Grandmother lost her sight; however, her hearing sharpened.

Note: A clause that begins with a conjunctive adverb remains independent, and so is a complete sentence. Thus, you could write, "Grandmother's eyes went bad. However, her hearing sharpened."

Semicolons join independent clauses without the use of a conjunctive word.

Grandmother lost her sight; her hearing sharpened.

Note: Use a semicolon alone between clauses when the clauses are closely related.