A SENTENCE is an assemblage of words forming complete sense.

A SIMPLE SENTENCE contains but one subject, or nominative, and one verb which agrees with that nominative; as, “Wheat grows in the field.”

You perceive that this sentence contains several words besides the nominative and the verb, and you will often see a simple sentence containing many parts of speech; but, if it has only one nominative and one finite verb, (that is, a verb not in the infinitive mood,) it is a simple sentence, though it is longer than many compound sentences.

A COMPOUND SENTENCE is composed of two or more simple sentences connected together; as, “Wheat grows in the field, and men reap it.”

This sentence is compound, because it is formed of two simple sentences joined together by the word and; which word, on account of its connecting power, is called a conjunction.  If we write this sentence without the conjunction, it becomes two simple sentences:  thus, “Wheat grows in the field.  Men reap it.”

The nature and importance of the conjunction, are easily illustrated.  After expressing one thought or sentiment, you know we frequently wish to add another, or several others, which are closely connected with it.  We generally effect this addition by means of the conjunction:  thus, “The Georgians cultivate rice and cotton;” that is, “They cultivate rice add cotton.”  This sentence is compound, and without the use of the conjunction, it would be written in two separate, simple sentences:  thus, “The Georgians cultivate rice.  They cultivate cotton.”  The conjunction, though chiefly used to connect sentences, sometimes connects only words; in which capacity it is nearly allied to the preposition; as, “The sun and (add) the planets constitute the solar system.”  In this, which is a simple sentence, and connects two words.

A few more examples will illustrate the nature, and exhibit the use of this part of speech so clearly, as to enable you fully to comprehend it.  The following simple sentences and members of sentences, have no relation to each other until they are connected by conjunctions.  He labors harder—­more successfully—­I do.  That man is healthy—­he is temperate.  By filling up the vacancies in these sentences with conjunctions, you will see the importance of this sort of words:  thus, He labors harder and more successfully than I do.  That man is healthy because he is temperate.

Conjunctions are divided into two sorts, the Copulative and Disjunctive.

I. The Conjunction Copulative serves to connect and continue a sentence by joining on a member which expresses an addition, a supposition, or a cause; as, “Two and three are five; I will go if he will accompany me; You are happy because you are good.”

In the first of these examples, and joins on a word that expresses an addition; in the second, if connects a member that implies a supposition or condition; and in the third, because connects a member that expresses a cause.