The Printable KISS Grammar Workbooks The KISS Workbooks Anthology
(Code and Color Key)

Compound Main Clauses
From Old-time Stories, Fairy Tales and Myths Retold by Children
By E. Louise Smythe
Analysis Key

Note: The original texts usually combine main clauses with "and" without a comma. Since it is better to learn the basic rule first, I inserted commas .

1. The light went out, | and she was {in the cold and dark} again. |

2. The eagle stayed {by the gate}, | but Loki went {into the city}. |

3. *I* [#1] Thank you (DO), dear [DirA], | *you* put them (DO) 

     {on the table} and come here. | [#2]

4. Fire could not burn him (DO), | and swords could not cut him (DO). |

5. They made a big fire (DO), | but the meat would not cook. |

6. The goat was hungry (PA), | and he ate all the leaves (DO). |

7. Jason's father went {to sleep}, | and Medea put some (DO) {of the juice}

     {into his mouth}. |

8. The children wanted to pat the sheep [#3], | but they could not catch 

     him (DO). |


Notes
1. KISS does not include instructional material on this ellipsed "I," but students who have studied ellipsed "You" should be able to figure it out. (Grammars cannot explain everything, and students need to learn how to use what they do know to figure out unusual cases.)
2. Note that an ellipsed "you" as subject that has compound verbs can also be explained as compounded clauses--"*you* put them on the table, and *you* come here."
3. "Sheep" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to pat." The infinitive phrase functions as the direct object of "wanted."