I moved easily along the berth. I felt for the window ledge (compound sentence)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct compound sentence:
I moved easily along the berth, and I felt for the window ledge.
Explanation
A compound sentence is a sentence made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet. Each clause must be able to stand alone as a complete sentence, meaning it has a subject and a predicate.
In the original example, “I moved easily along the berth” is a complete thought with a subject (I) and a predicate (moved easily along the berth). Similarly, “I felt for the window ledge” is also an independent clause with its own subject and verb.
To turn these two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you join them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. In this case, the most natural conjunction is “and”, since the two actions happened in sequence and are related.
So the compound sentence becomes:
“I moved easily along the berth, and I felt for the window ledge.”
The comma before “and” is necessary in a compound sentence because it separates the two independent clauses. Leaving out the comma can make the sentence harder to read or result in a run-on sentence, which is a grammatical error.
Here’s why this structure is effective:
- It maintains the original meaning.
- It shows that both actions were done by the same subject (I).
- It keeps the flow and order of events.
Using compound sentences helps vary sentence structure, making writing more engaging. It also allows the writer to link related ideas clearly and effectively. This type of sentence is common in narrative writing where the author describes a series of actions or events taken by the character.
