Combining Sentences

Combining Sentences
When is it a good idea to combine sentences?

How to combine sentences
Inserting words and phrases
Coordinating ideas
Compound subjects, verbs, and objects
Compound sentences
Subordinating ideas
Review A
Review B
When is it a good idea
to combine sentences?
Look for ways to combine sentences when
• consecutive sentences have the same subject
and verb
The Titanic was the largest ship of its time. The
Titanic was also the most luxurious ship of its
time. The Titanic was on its maiden voyage.
• your sentences have the same word order,

pattern, or rhythm
accident happened
The accident happened at at
night. The
night. night
The was
night
night was
was
clear and cold. The date
date was
wasApril
April14,
14,1912.
1912.
Do these sentences hold your attention?
The sinking of the Titanic was a maritime
disaster. It was one of the worst in history. The
Titanic was the largest ship of its time. It was
also the most luxurious ship. The Titanic was
on its maiden voyage. The ship struck an
iceberg. The iceberg was near Newfoundland.
The accident happened on April 14, 1912. The
night was clear and cold.
Sentence combining makes the paragraph
shorter, more precise, and more interesting.
Do these sentences hold your attention?
The sinking of the Titanic,
Titanic was the a maritime
disaster.and
largest It was
most one
luxurious
of the worst
ship in history. The
Titanic
of its time,
waswas
the one
largest
of the
shipworst
of its time. It was
also the most
maritime disasters
luxurious
in history.
ship. The
On Titanic was
on its
the clear,
maiden
cold voyage.
night of The
Aprilship
14, struck an
iceberg.
1912, theThe
ship,
iceberg
whichwaswasnear
on itsNewfoundland.
The accident
maiden voyage,happened
struck anon iceberg
April 14, 1912. The
night Newfoundland.
near was clear and cold.
Combine short sentences by taking a key

key word
word
from one sentence and inserting it into the other.
Magicians guard the secrets of their tricks.

They guard their secrets closely.
closely
You may have to change the form of the word.
Houdini performed impossible escapes.
The escapes only seemed impossible.

Magicians guard
closelythe
guard
secrets
the secrets
of theirof
tricks.
their tricks.
Houdini performed seemingly impossible escapes.

When changing the form of a

word, you often add an
ending that makes the word
an adjective or an adverb.
VERB ADVERB
seemed seemingly
NOUN ADJECTIVE
culture cultural
You can also combine sentences by inserting a

phrase from one sentence into another.
• Prepositional Phrase
The trees were bent nearly double. They were bent
in the wind
• Participial Phrase
I was puzzled by her behavior. I asked her to
explain.

• Prepositional Phrase
The trees were bent nearly double in the wind.
• Participial Phrase
Puzzled by her behavior, I asked her to explain.

Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase contains

• a preposition
• a noun or pronoun
(the object of the preposition)
• any modifiers of the object
behind the
door
mysterious door
Participial phrases
A participial phrase contains

• a verb form usually ending in –ing or –ed
• a noun, pronoun, or adjective
(complement of the participle)
• any modifiers
preparing dinner for their friends


• Absolute Phrases
The wind started gusting. Constance returned home.
• Appositive Phrases
Calligraphy is an elegant form of handwriting. It
requires a special pen or brush.

• Absolute Phrases
The wind gusting, Constance returned home.
• Appositive Phrases
Calligraphy, ananelegant
elegantform
formofofhandwriting,
handwriting
requires a special pen or brush.
Absolute phrases
An absolute phrase contains

• a participle or participial
phrase
• a noun or pronoun that the
participle or participial
phrase modifies
• any other modifiers of that
noun or pronoun
knots
having
securehaving
been
knots
tied
been
having
tied been tied
Absolute phrases
An absolute phrase has NO

grammatical relationship to any
particular word in the independent
clause it modifies. It modifies the
entire independent clause by telling
when, how, or why.
The absolute phrase tells how

the geese rose from the pond.
[Wings flapping furiously,] the flock
of geese rose from the pond.
Appositive phrases
An appositive is a word that identifies a nearby

noun or pronoun.
The cowboy’s horse

horse,reared andreared
Ranger,
snorted.
and snorted.
An appositive phrase consists of

an appositive and its modifiers.
The cowboy’s horse, a nervous young
stallion, reared and snorted.
Combine the following short sentences by

inserting the italicized word or phrase into the first
sentence. Add commas where necessary. Hints in
parentheses tell how to change word forms.
1. The surgeon performed the operation. She

was a skillful surgeon.
2. The children went down the slide. They took

turns. (Change took to taking.)
3. This city has a famous cathedral. The city is

the capital of the country.

1. The skillful surgeon performed the

operation.
The sentences have been combined so that the

adjective skillful modifies surgeon.

Possible Answer
2. Taking turns, the children went down the

slide.

participial phrase taking turns modifies children.

Possible Answer
3. This city, the capital of the country, has a

famous cathedral.

appositive phrase the capital of the country
modifies city.
On Your Own
Combine sentences. Use the hints.
1. Natalie opened the trunk slowly. The trunk was antique.
2. She moved some papers aside. She peered deeper into
the trunk. (Change moved to moving.)
3. She found the photographs. They were at the bottom of
the trunk.
4. Natalie lifted the top photograph. She lifted it with care.
(Change care to carefully.)
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by inserting words or
phrases. Some sentences may be combined in different
ways. Hints in parentheses indicate changes to word forms.
1. Natalie opened the antique trunk slowly.
2. Moving some papers aside, she peered deeper into
the trunk.
3. She found the photographs at the bottom of the
trunk.
4. Carefully Natalie lifted the top photograph.
Coordinating ideas
You can also join equally important words, phrases,

and clauses by using coordinating conjunctions or
correlative conjunctions.
This bike needs brakes.
brakes.
It needs a taillight.
taillight.
We saw the
the surface
surfaceofofthe
the
moon.
moon.
We also saw the
the rings
ringsofofSaturn.
Saturn.
Kris liked
Kris likedthe
thejacket.
jacket.
It was
It wastoo
tooexpensive.
expensive.
Coordinating ideas
You can also join equally important words, phrases,

and clauses by using coordinating conjunctions or
correlative conjunctions.
This bike needs brakes and a taillight.
We saw the
the surface
surfaceofofthe
the
moon.
moon.and
moon
the rings of Saturn.
Kris liked
Kris likedthe
thejacket.
jacket. but it was too
jacket,
expensive.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
and but or nor
for yet so
A coordinating conjunction joins words or groups

of words that are used in the same way.
Correlative conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions
both . . . and
either . . . or
neither . . . nor
not only . . . but also
whether . . . or
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of

conjunctions that join words or groups of words
that are used in the same way.
Compound sentences
If two sentences are related and equally

important, you can form a compound sentence.
A compound sentence is made by joining the two
sentences with
• a comma and a coordinating
conjunction
• or a semicolon
• or a semicolon and a conjunctive
adverb
The phone rang;
rang. but
rang, no one
however,
No
noone
one
answered
no
answered
answered
oneit.
answered
it.
it. it.
Conjunctive adverbs
Common Conjunctive Adverbs

also however meanwhile still
besides instead nevertheless then
consequently likewise otherwise therefore
A conjunctive adverb shows how ideas relate to

one another. It expresses a relationship between
two independent clauses.
Compound sentences
Notice the difference between a

compound subject or verb and a
compound sentence.
In a compound sentence, each half of the sentence

has its own subject and its own verb.
Subject Verb Subject Verb

The phone
phone rang,
rang,but
butno
no
noone
one
oneanswered.
answered.
answered.
Compound sentences
Combine each of the following pairs of

sentences by forming a compound sentence. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
1. It was hot in the sun. We went to sit in the

shade.
2. Marta stayed up too late. She feels tired this

morning.
3. Owning a dog is a big responsibility. A dog

needs a lot of care and attention.
Compound sentences

Possible Answer
1. It was hot in the sun, so we went to sit in the

shade.
The conjunction so relates two equally important

ideas by showing that one idea is a result of the
other.
Compound sentences

Possible Answer
2. Marta stayed up too late; consequently, she

feels tired this morning.
The semicolon shows that the two ideas are closely

related. The conjunctive adverb consequently
indicates cause and effect.
Compound sentences

Possible Answer
3. Owning a dog is a big responsibility; a dog needs

a lot of care and attention.
The semicolon shows that the two ideas are closely

related.
Compound sentences
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound
sentence.
1. I can’t go to practice today. I’ll be there tomorrow.
2. We could go to an early movie. We could eat dinner first
and go to a later show.
3. Clouds covered the moon. He could not see the trail.
4. Our house is easy to find. It’s right on the corner.
5. Everyone had a test that day. We postponed the meeting
for a week.
Compound sentences
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound
sentence.
1. I can’t go to practice today, but I’ll be there tomorrow.
2. We could go to an early movie, or we could eat dinner
first and go to a later show.
3. Clouds covered the moon, so he could not see the trail.
4. Our house is easy to find; it’s right on the corner.
5. Everyone had a test that day; therefore, we postponed
the meeting for a week.
Subordinating ideas
When two related sentences contain ideas of

unequal importance, you can make one idea
subordinate to the other in a complex sentence.
Independent Clause Independent Clause

The band played. The whole team left the field.
Independent Clause Subordinate Clause

The band played while the whole team left the field.
Subordinate Clause Independent Clause
While the band played, the whole team left the field.
Complex sentences
A complex sentence contains one independent

clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Independent Clause Subordinate Clause

Have you
Have youpracticed
practicedthethe
speech that
speech
that you
that
you will
you
willgive?
will
give?
give?
Subordinate Clause Independent Clause

Whenever I Ihave
Whenever havespare
spare
time,
time,
II practice
practice
I practice
mymymy
speech.
speech.
speech.
Independent clauses
An independent clause (or main clause)

expresses a complete thought and can stand by
itself as a sentence.
An independent clause has a subject and a verb
and expresses a complete thought.
Subject Verb
The hurricane
hurricane howled.
howled.
howled.
Subject Verb
dog barked
The dog barked every
barked everynight
every nightfor
night foraaaweek.
for week.
week.
Subordinate clauses
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) does

not express a complete thought and cannot stand
by itself as a sentence.
A subordinate clause has a subject and a verb but
does not express a complete thought.
Subject
whenever II have
have
have spare
spare
spare time
time
time
Verb
What happens
whenever I have
spare time?
Subordinating ideas
There are three types of subordinate clauses:

adjective, adverb, and noun clauses. Each type
can replace an ordinary adjective, adverb, or noun.
• Adjective Clause
We invited students
new students.
who are new.
• Adverb Clause
He awakened early.
when the alarm went off.
• Noun Clause
She explained her
whatidea.
was on her mind.
Subordinating ideas
Make one sentence into an adjective clause by

replacing the subject with who, which, or that.
The lighthouse is perched on a cliff.
which
It has stood for more than a century.
^
Then use the adjective clause to provide
information about a preceding noun or pronoun.
The lighthouse, which has stood for more than a

century, is perched on a cliff.
Subordinating ideas
If an adjective clause is not

essential to the meaning of the
sentence, set it off with commas.
If it is essential, no commas are
necessary.
Not essential
The lighthouse, which is more than a
century old, is perched on a cliff.
Essential
Is this lighthouse the one that is more
than a century old?
Subordinating ideas
Turn one sentence into an adverb clause by

adding a subordinating conjunction, such as
after, although, because, if, when, or where.
II didn’t
didn’t really
really understand
understand the
the movie.
movie
until I finished
I finished the book.
the book.
If the adverb clause begins a

sentence, place a comma after it.
Until I finished the book, I didn’t

really understand the movie.
Subordinating conjunctions
Common Subordinating Conjunctions

as before since when
as if if so that whenever
as long as once unless while
A subordinating conjunction shows a relationship

between an adverb clause and the word(s) that it
modifies. For example, before, once, since, when,
and while indicate time.
Subordinating ideas
Turn a sentence into a noun clause by adding a
word like that, how, what, who, or whoever to
the beginning of the sentence.
Noun clause
The doctor told him. that
Hehehad
hadbroken
brokenhis
his wrist.
wrist.
Insert the clause into another sentence just as

you would an ordinary noun.
Ordinary
The doctor told him the results.
noun
Noun clause The doctor told him that the

results showed he had a broken
wrist.
Subordinating ideas
When you place the noun clause in

another sentence, you may have to
change or remove some words.
Three inches of rain fell yesterday.
This does not mean the drought is over.
That three inches of rain fell

yesterday does not mean the drought
is over.
Subordinating ideas

turning one of the sentences into an adjective clause,
adverb clause, or noun clause, as indicated in
parentheses.
1. The man lives in this apartment building. He
drives our bus. (adjective clause)
2. I print out my final draft. I will proofread it.

(adverb clause)
3. The players were notified. The game had

been cancelled. (noun clause)
Subordinating ideas

parentheses.
Possible Answer
1. The man who drives our bus lives in this

apartment building.
The sentences have been combined so that the clause

who drives our bus modifies the noun man.
Subordinating ideas

parentheses.
Possible Answer
2. Before I print out my final draft, I will

proofread it.

before I print out my final draft modifies will
proofread.
Subordinating ideas

parentheses.
Possible Answer
3. The players were notified that the game had

been canceled.

that the game had been canceled is the direct object
of the sentence.
Subordinating ideas
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one sentence into
an adjective clause, adverb clause, or noun clause, as
indicated in parentheses.
1. Someone ate the eggs. I was saving them for the cookies.
(adjective clause)
2. We ate dinner. After that, we went to a movie. (adverb
clause)
3. You said. I could borrow your book tonight. (noun clause)
4. The girl is running for student body president. She sits
behind me in class. (adjective clause)
Subordinating ideas
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one sentence
into an adjective clause, adverb clause, or noun clause, as
indicated in parentheses.
1. Someone ate the eggs that I was saving for the
cookies.
2. After we ate dinner, we went to a movie.
3. You said that I could borrow your book tonight.
4. The girl who sits behind me in class is running for
student body president.
Review A
Using all the sentence-combining skills you have learned,

combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
1. The child gave a shout. The shout was joyful.
2. Carter knew. He should have studied for the exam.
3. Erin began the discussion. Erin is a skilled debater.
4. Steam rose from the pan of water. The water had just
begun to boil.
5. The wood was wet from the rain. We couldn’t get the fire
started.
Review A
Possible Answers
Using all the sentence-combining skills you have learned,
combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
1. The child gave a joyful shout.
2. Carter knew that he should have studied for the

exam.
3. Erin, a skilled debater, began the discussion.
4. Steam rose from the pan of water, which had just

begun to boil.
5. The wood was wet from the rain; consequently, we

couldn’t get the fire started.

Combining Sentences

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Combining Sentences

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Combining Sentences

When is it a good idea to combine sentences?

• your sentences have the same word order,

Combine short sentences by taking a key

Magicians guard the secrets of their tricks.

You may have to change the form of the word.

Houdini performed impossible escapes.

The escapes only seemed impossible.

Houdini performed seemingly impossible escapes.

When changing the form of a

You can also combine sentences by inserting a

You can also combine sentences by inserting a

Puzzled by her behavior, I asked her to explain.

A prepositional phrase contains

A participial phrase contains

preparing dinner for their friends

You can also combine sentences by inserting a

You can also combine sentences by inserting a

The wind gusting, Constance returned home.

An absolute phrase contains

An absolute phrase has NO

The absolute phrase tells how

An appositive is a word that identifies a nearby

The cowboy’s horse

An appositive phrase consists of

Combine the following short sentences by

1. The surgeon performed the operation. She

2. The children went down the slide. They took

3. This city has a famous cathedral. The city is

Combine the following short sentences by

1. The skillful surgeon performed the

The sentences have been combined so that the

Combine the following short sentences by

2. Taking turns, the children went down the

The sentences have been combined so that the

Combine the following short sentences by

3. This city, the capital of the country, has a

The sentences have been combined so that the

You can also join equally important words, phrases,

You can also join equally important words, phrases,

This bike needs brakes and a taillight.

A coordinating conjunction joins words or groups

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of

If two sentences are related and equally

Common Conjunctive Adverbs

besides instead nevertheless then

consequently likewise otherwise therefore

A conjunctive adverb shows how ideas relate to

Notice the difference between a

In a compound sentence, each half of the sentence

Subject Verb Subject Verb

Combine each of the following pairs of

1. It was hot in the sun. We went to sit in the

2. Marta stayed up too late. She feels tired this

3. Owning a dog is a big responsibility. A dog

Combine each of the following pairs of

1. It was hot in the sun, so we went to sit in the

The conjunction so relates two equally important

Combine each of the following pairs of

2. Marta stayed up too late; consequently, she

The semicolon shows that the two ideas are closely

Combine each of the following pairs of

3. Owning a dog is a big responsibility; a dog needs