1) Coordinate clauses joined by copulative conjunctions.

Clauses joined by the conjunction and may be separated by a comma if the connection between the clauses is close, as in: A man is as old as he feels, and a woman is as old as she looks. However, the semicolon would be more appropriate if the coordinate clauses already have commas in them: Shakespeare, a great playwright, wrote a great many plays; and he wrote a number of sonnets too.

Occasionally a dash is used: There is only one thing to do now — and that's to withdraw our papers. A dash can be used to introduce a paradoxical ending to a compound sentence: Abby gave me a terrible haircut – and expected a tip.

Coordinate clauses joined by the conjunctions neither, nor are generally separated by a comma: You can neither prove your point, nor can you disprove mine.

Clauses joined by the conjunctive adverbs moreover, besides, then are usually separated by a semicolon: John didn't really want to go to the celebration; moreover, nobody had invited him.

2) Coordinate clauses joined by disjunctive conjunctions are usually separated by a comma. Behave yourself, or you'll be out of this room before you can say Jack Robinson. Either I'm too sleepy to study, or the lesson is too boring.

Occasionally a semicolon or a dash is found before the conjunction or: We could have started all over again; or, at least, that didn't seem like a bad idea back then. The stars seemed closer – or was it merely a dream?

3) Coordinate clauses joined by adversative conjunctions.

Clauses joined by the conjunctions but and while are separated by a comma or a semicolon: He was still depressed, but he finally stopped blaming others for his misfortune. He was no stranger to trouble; but trouble never comes alone in life.

A dash may also be found: They've exposed him to all the vicissitudes of life possible – but he forgave them.

Clauses joined by the conjunctive adverbs yet, whereas, still as a rule are separated by a semicolon: She treats you badly, still, she is your mother.

4) Clauses joined by causative-consecutive conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs are as a rule separated by a comma or a semicolon: Don't you dare lie to me, for I know all your little schemes. I have paid my dues; therefore, I expect all the privileges listed in the contract.

Clauses joined by the conjunction so are typically separated by a comma: I couldn't find any hotel nearby, so I'll be staying here for the night.

Occasionally we find a dash or a colon before the conjunctions for and so: Rosmetta kept asking him personal questions — for she craved to learn some juicy tidbit about him.

There is an increasing tendency to discard the comma between coordinate clauses, but it is still desirable before but and obligatory before for, while, whilst, whereas, and only [52].

Regarding typical punctuation mistakes, we should mention comma splice and run-on sentences.

A comma splice is the use of a comma to separate two independent clauses without the addition of an appropriate conjunction [22], for example: The steamer has arrived, nobody seemed to care.

A run-on is a sentence in which two or more coordinate clauses are joined without an appropriate punctuation or conjunction [22]. For example: It's really dark in here we can't find the way out.

There are several ways to correct comma splices and run-on sentences:

1) insert a semicolon or dash;

2) write the two clauses as two separate sentences;

3) insert a coordinating conjunction with a comma;

4) make one clause dependent on the other.

Conclusion

In the first chapter we have overviewed the main theoretical aspects regarding syntactic characteristics of the compound sentence structures and their types.

In the subparagraph 1.1.1 we outline the basic sentence types that function in modern English. In particular, we have dwelt upon the two major classifications of sentences: structural and communicative one. The first typology is based on the differentiation of the basic grammatical feature of the sentence, namely, the number of its predicative lines. The second classification deals with the sentence as a communicative unit defining its various functions.

The subparagraph 1.1.2 was focused solely on the syntactical peculiarities of compound and semi-compound sentences. Some controversial views regarding the very existence of such sentence types have been analyzed. Several points were provided that justified their distinction. The problem of syntactic status of coordinate clauses has been also raised.

In the subsection 1.1.3 there were outlined the main syndetic and asyndetic means of connecting clauses. We've analyzed the two groups of linking words that function within compound sentences, namely, conjunctions proper or semi-functional clausal connectors of adverbial character, and expanded on their functions.

The second paragraph of the first chapter is dedicated to the analysis of the logical and semantic relations that function within compound sentences and the way they are expressed. The subparagraph 1.2.1 contains a classification of these relations and provides a number of sentences that exemplify it.

The subsection 1.2.2. sheds light onto the problem of semantical correlation between subordinative and coordinate connections. The examples provided illustrate all theoretical points. Although most of the sentences allow for different transformations, the fact remains, they are not entirely equal, for coordinative connections are more general, while the subordinative ones are more discriminatory.

Finally, in the subparagraph 1.2.3 we provide a number of rules for punctuating different kinds of compound sentences and also give some pointers as for how to avoid some common mistakes in written English.

CHAPTER 2. SYNTACTIC AND STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE COMPOUND SENTENCES AND THEIR FUNCTION IN "THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE" BY OSCAR WILDE