What is a characteristic of a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is defined by its structure, specifically the presence of two or more independent clauses that are connected by coordinating conjunctions (such as "and," "but," or "or"). Each independent clause within a compound sentence has its own subject and verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence. This characteristic allows for the combination of related thoughts, providing a way to convey more complex ideas without losing clarity.

In contrast, a sentence with a dependent clause (often seen in complex sentences) would not meet the definition of a compound sentence. Additionally, a simple sentence contains only one independent clause, while the statement that a sentence cannot stand alone describes a dependent clause rather than an independent one. Thus, the hallmark of a compound sentence is indeed the presence of multiple independent clauses, making the third choice the correct characteristic.