Question

semicolon and the independent clauses
rewrite each compound sentence below using a semicolon instead of the conjunction.

1. gayle liked meat loaf, but she likes shrimp better.
2. we dont have to go if it rains, and i hope it rains.
3. the library board met on thursday, and it was an emergency meeting.
4. thomas excelled in playing the tuba, yet he rarely needed to practice.
5. the movie ran late, so we talked while we waited.
6. there were five doughnuts left this morning, but now there are none.

Explanation:

1. Gayle liked meat loaf; she likes shrimp better.

• The original sentence has two independent clauses: "Gayle liked meat loaf" and "she likes shrimp better". We replace the conjunction "but" with a semicolon.

1. We don't have to go if it rains; I hope it rains.

• The two independent clauses "We don't have to go if it rains" and "I hope it rains" are connected. We remove the conjunction "and" and use a semicolon.

1. The library board met on Thursday; it was an emergency meeting.

• The two independent clauses "The library board met on Thursday" and "it was an emergency meeting" are joined. We take out the conjunction "and" and insert a semicolon.

1. Thomas excelled in playing the tuba; he rarely needed to practice.

• The two independent clauses "Thomas excelled in playing the tuba" and "he rarely needed to practice" are combined. We substitute the conjunction "yet" with a semicolon.

1. The movie ran late; we talked while we waited.

• The two independent clauses "The movie ran late" and "we talked while we waited" are linked. We remove the conjunction "so" and use a semicolon.

1. There were five doughnuts left this morning; now there are none.

• The two independent clauses "There were five doughnuts left this morning" and "now there are none" are connected. We take out the conjunction "but" and use a semicolon.

Answer:

1. Gayle liked meat loaf; she likes shrimp better.
2. We don't have to go if it rains; I hope it rains.
3. The library board met on Thursday; it was an emergency meeting.
4. Thomas excelled in playing the tuba; he rarely needed to practice.
5. The movie ran late; we talked while we waited.
6. There were five doughnuts left this morning; now there are none.