Combining Sentences

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Combining Sentences
When should you combine sentences? How to
combine sentences Inserting words Inserting
phrases Using and, but, or or Using subordinate
clauses Review A Review B
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When should you combine sentences?
Wouldnt it be boring to have the exact same
weather...
every...
single...
day?
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When should you combine sentences?Too many short
sentences
Reading the same type of sentence over and over
again can also be boring.
Notice how too many short sentences make this
paragraph boring to read.
Now see how sentence combining makes the
paragraph shorter and more interesting.
Thomas Edison created a talking doll in 1894. The
doll would recite a nursery rhyme or poem when a
crank in its back was turned. The talking doll
was very popular, and Edison opened a factory.
Thomas Edison created a talking doll. He created
the talking doll in 1894. The doll would recite a
nursery rhyme or poem. It said the words when a
crank in its back was turned. The talking doll
was very popular. Edison opened a factory.
End of Section
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
Combine short sentences by taking a key word from
one sentence and inserting it into the other.
key word
Ken gave me a beautiful rose. The rose was pink.
pink.
Ken gave me a beautiful
pink
rose.
You may have to change the form of the word.
Roses come from shrubs. The shrubs have thorns.
thorns
Roses come from
thorny
thorny
shrubs.
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
When you change the form of a word, you often add
an ending that makes the word an adjective or an
adverb.
Grammar Guy Says...
Noun
Adjective
thorny
thorn
Adjective
Adverb
quick
quickly
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
Combine the following short sentences by
inserting the word in italics into the first
sentence. Hints in parentheses tell how to change
word forms.
1. My grandfather is an excellent singer. He
mostly sings the blues.
2. The oil seeped out of the engine. It seeped at
a slow rate. (Change slow to slowly.)
3. The plant has long leaves. The leaves have
points on them. (Change points to pointed.)
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
Combine the following short sentences by
inserting the word in italics into the first
sentence. Hints in parentheses tell how to change
word forms.
1. My grandfather is an excellent blues singer.
2. The oil seeped slowly out of the engine.
3. The plant has long, pointed leaves.
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by inserting a
word from the second sentence into the first
sentence. Hints in parentheses tell how to change
word forms. 1. Peanuts are a crop of many warm
regions. They are a major crop. 2. The oil from
peanuts is used in dressings. The dressings are
for salads. 3. Peanuts are a food for snacking.
Peanuts are good for your health. (Change health
to healthful.) 4. Try some peanuts today. They
taste good. (Change taste to tasty.)
End of Section
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How to combine sentences Inserting words
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by inserting a
word from the second sentence into the first
sentence. Hints in parentheses tell how to change
word forms.
1. Peanuts are a major crop of many warm
regions.
2. The oil from peanuts is used in salad
dressings.
3. Peanuts are a healthful food for snacking.
4. Try some tasty peanuts today.
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
You can also combine sentences by inserting a
phrase from one sentence into another.
Brown bears gather in groups. They gather near
rivers.
near rivers.
Brown bears gather in groups
near rivers.
Tina spotted a snake. She spotted it during her
hike.
during her hike.
During her hike
Tina spotted a snake.
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How to combine sentences Phrase
A phrase is a group of related words that is used
as a single part of speech and that does not
contain both a verb and its subject.
down the snowy hills
skiing all day
an excellent skier
to get to the top of the mountain
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
Grammar Guy Says...
Sometimes you can create a new phrase by changing
the form of the verb.
Kendra worked for her uncle. She learned about
photography.
worked
learned
Kendra worked for her uncle
worked
working
Working for her uncle,
Kendra
learned
to learn
learned about photography.
to learn about photography.
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
Combine the following short sentences by
inserting the phrase in italics into the first
sentence. Add commas where necessary. Hints in
parentheses tell how to change word forms.
1. The blizzard hit the city. It hit in the
middle of the night.
2. We are taking care of Chewy. Chewy is Diannes
pet hamster.
3. She learned the names of all the bones. She
studied every night. (Change studied to studying.)
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
Combine the following short sentences by
inserting the phrase in italics into the first
sentence. Add commas where necessary. Hints in
parentheses tell how to change word forms.

1. The blizzard hit the city in the middle of
   the night.

2. We are taking care of Chewy, Diannes pet
hamster.
3. Studying every night, she learned the names of
all the bones.
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by inserting a
phrase from one sentence into the other sentence.
Some sentences may be combined in different ways.
Add commas where necessary. 1. The pony has
brown spots. The spots are on its back. 2. We
left for the movie theater. We left after
dinner. 3. Enrique plays in the school orchestra.
Enrique is a master of the violin. 4. The vines
should be trimmed. These are the vines growing
on the fence.
End of Section
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How to combine sentences Inserting phrases
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by inserting a
phrase from one sentence into the other sentence.
Some sentences may be combined in different ways.
Add commas where necessary.
1. The pony has brown spots on its back.
2. We left for the movie theater after dinner.
3. Enrique, a master of the violin, plays in the
school orchestra.
4. The vines growing on the fence should be
trimmed.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
You can combine sentences by using the
coordinating conjunctions and, but, or or.
Katie and Tyrone both enjoy crossword puzzles.
And shows similarity.
But shows a contrast.
Katie likes crossword puzzles but hates word-find
puzzles.
Tyrone or Katie will help you solve that
crossword puzzle.
Or shows a choice.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
You can combine sentences by using and, but, or
or to create a compound subject.
Step 1. Look for sentences that have the same
verb.
Kangaroos have pouches.
Kangaroos have pouches.
Same verb
Koalas have pouches.
Koalas have pouches.
Step 2. Join the subjects with a connecting word
such as and, but, or or.
Kangaroos and koalas have pouches.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Grammar Guy Says...
When you use and to join two subjects, the new
compound subject will be plural, so make sure you
use a plural verb.
Tim plays tennis. Ken plays tennis.
Tim and Ken play tennis.
The plural verb play agrees with the plural
compound subject Tim and Ken.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
You can combine sentences by using and, but, or
or to create a compound verb.
Step 1. Look for sentences that have the same
subject.
Carlos will go to the movies.
Carlos will go to the movies.
Same subject
Carlos will play soccer in the park.
Carlos will play soccer in the park.
Step 2. Join the verbs with a connecting word
such as and, but, or or.
Carlos will go to the movies or play soccer in
the park.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound subject or a compound verb. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
1. Dolphins are warm-blooded. Porpoises are
warm-blooded.
2. You can clean your room now. You can wait
until after lunch.
3. Juan bought a bicycle. Juan did not ride it.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound subject or a compound verb. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
1. Dolphins and porpoises are warm-blooded.
Since both sentences had the same verb, the
combined sentence has a compound subject. The
conjunction and shows that the ideas are similar.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound subject or a compound verb. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
2. You can clean your room now or wait until
after lunch.
Since both sentences had the same subject, the
combined sentence has a compound verb. The
conjunction or shows that there is a choice.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound subject or a compound verb. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
3. Juan bought a bicycle but did not ride it.
Since both sentences had the same subject, the
combined sentence has a compound verb. The
conjunction but shows a contrast between ideas.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
On Your Own

• Combine each pair of sentences by forming a
  compound subject or a compound verb.
• Parakeets make good pets. Gerbils make good
  pets.
• 2. The question confused me. It did not trick me.
• 3. Mara eats well every day. Mara exercises every
  day.
• 4. Maples grow well in this area. Birches grow
  well too.
• 5. Jason may bring the snacks. Heidi may bring
  them.

End of Section
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a
compound subject or a compound verb.
1. Parakeets and gerbils make good pets.
2. The question confused but did not trick me.
3. Mara eats well and exercises every day.
4. Maples and birches grow well in this area.
5. Jason or Heidi will bring the snacks.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
If the two sentences are related and equally
important, you can form a compound sentence.
To make a compound sentence, join the two
sentences with a comma and a coordinating
conjunction.
Jan sliced the bread.
I made the soup.
Jan sliced the bread, and I made the soup.
Brett likes math.
Greta prefers science.
Bret likes math, but Greta prefers science.
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How to combine sentences Compound sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more
independent clauses, usually joined by a comma
and a connecting word.
Missy passed the ball
Marta made the shot.
, and
Missy
Marta
passed
made
Each independent clause has a subject and a verb
and expresses a complete thought.
subject
verb
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your
answers.
1. The blinds were closed. The doors were locked.
2. The mail carrier has arrived. He does not have
the letter.
3. Becky will draw the map herself. If not, Jim
will help her.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your
answers.
1. The blinds were closed, and the doors were
locked.
The conjunction and shows that the ideas in the
two halves of the sentence are equal in
importance.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your
answers.
Possible Answer
2. The mail carrier has arrived, but he does not
have the letter.
The conjunction but shows the contrast between
the ideas in the two halves of the sentence.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Combine the following short sentences by forming
a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your
answers.
Possible Answer
3. Becky will draw the map herself, or Jim will
help her.
The conjunction or shows a choice between the
ideas in the two halves of the sentence.
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a
compound sentence. 1. Nelia mowed the grass.
Burt pulled the weeds. 2. The bakery has already
closed. The café is still open. 3. Planets do not
give off light of their own. Stars do. 4. We can
keep the old system of measurement. We can
switch to the metric system.
End of Section
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How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a
compound sentence.
1. Nelia mowed the grass, and Burt pulled the
weeds.
2. The bakery has already closed, but the café is
still open.
3. Planets do not give off light of their own,
but stars do.
4. We can keep the old system of measurement, or
we can switch to the metric system.
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Another way to combine sentences is to turn one
sentence into a subordinate clause and attach it
to the other sentence, an independent clause.
Subordinate clause
Independent clause
Amy painted the walls while I cleaned the floor.
Amy painted the walls.
I cleaned the floor.
while I cleaned the floor
Attach the subordinate clause
The subordinate clause adds information by
telling what else was going on while Amy was
painting.
When you combine sentences this way, you get a
complex sentence.
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How to combine sentences Subordinate clause
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) has a
subject and a verb but does not express a
complete thought and cannot stand by itself as a
sentence.
Subject
Verb
after the bridge was built
after the bridge was built
after the bridge was built
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How to combine sentences Independent clause
An independent clause (or main clause) has a
subject and a verb and expresses a complete
thought. An independent clause can stand by
itself as a sentence.
Subject
Verb
Traffic improved.
Traffic improved.
Traffic improved.
Subject
Verb
Many motorists use the bridge daily.
Many motorists use the bridge daily.
Many motorists use the bridge daily.
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How to combine sentences Complex sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent
clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Independent Clause
Subordinate Clause
after the bridge was built.
Traffic improved
Complex sentences are also reversible. Insert a
comma after the subordinate clause when it begins
a sentence.
traffic improved.
After the bridge was built,
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
You can create a subordinate clause by replacing
the subject of an independent clause with who,
which, or that.
Subject
Mr. Garcia is a leader who has helped many people.
Mr. Garcia is a leader.
He has helped many people.
who has helped many people
Attach the subordinate clause
Subject
He runs the local food bank, which feeds
thousands.
which feeds thousands.
He runs the local food bank.
It feeds thousands.
Attach the subordinate clause
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
You can also make a subordinate clause by adding
a word that indicates time, such as after,
before, since, when, or while.
The fans were happy when their team made a goal.
The fans were happy.
Their team made a goal.
when their team made a goal.
Attach the subordinate clause
Sometimes youll have to change the other
sentence slightly before inserting the
subordinate clause.
After we watched the match, we had lunch.
Then we had lunch.
We watched the match.
after we watched the match
Attach the subordinate clause
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
You can also make a subordinate clause by adding
a word that indicates place, such as where.
where the tree grew.
A shed now stands on the spot where the tree grew.
A shed now stands on the spot.
The tree grew there.
Attach the subordinate clause
They went to Rome, where they saw the Vatican.
They went to Rome.
They saw the Vatican there.
where they saw the Vatican.
Attach the subordinate clause
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Combine the following short sentences by turning
the second sentence into a subordinate clause and
attaching it to the first. The hints in
parentheses tell you how to start the subordinate
clause.
1. Many visitors arrived. The gates opened. (Use
before.)
2. The Aztecs practiced a religion. It affected
every part of their lives. (Use that.)
3. We stopped at a roadside stand. There we
bought some apples. (Use where.)
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Combine the following short sentences by turning
the second sentence into a subordinate clause and
attaching it to the first. The hints in
parentheses tell you how to start the subordinate
clause.
Possible Answer
1. Many visitors arrived before the gates opened.
The subordinate clause before the gates opened
tells when the visitors arrived.
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Combine the following short sentences by turning
the second sentence into a subordinate clause and
attaching it to the first. The hints in
parentheses tell you how to start the subordinate
clause.
Possible Answer
2. The Aztecs practiced a religion that affected
every part of their lives.
The subordinate clause that affected every part
of their lives tells something more about
religion.
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Combine the following short sentences by turning
the second sentence into a subordinate clause and
attaching it to the first. The hints in
parentheses tell you how to start the subordinate
clause.
Possible Answer
3. We stopped at a roadside stand, where we
bought some apples.
The subordinate clause where we bought some
apples tells something more about roadside stand.
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
On Your Own

• Combine each pair of sentences by using a
  subordinate clause. The hints in parentheses tell
  you how to start the subordinate clause.
• 1. Dee received pearls. She graduated. (Use
  when.)
• 2. The pearl is a gem. It is made by certain
  kinds of oysters. (Use that.)
• 3. A pearl becomes round. It is formed in the
  soft part of the oyster. (Use after.)
• Beautiful pearls are found in tropical seas.
  The best pearl oysters live there. (Use where.)

End of Section
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How to combine sentences Using subordinate
clauses
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by using a
subordinate clause. The hints in parentheses tell
you how to start the subordinate clause.
1. Dee received pearls when she graduated.
2. The pearl is a gem that is made by certain
kinds of oysters.
3. A pearl becomes round after it is formed in
the soft part of the oyster.
4. Beautiful pearls are found in tropical seas,
where the best pearl oysters live.
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Review A
Combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
The hints in parentheses will help you decide
what combining method to use.

1. The baby gave me a smile. The smile was bright.
   (Insert a key word.)

1. Mother has installed new blinds. They block the
   bright afternoon sun. (Use which to begin a
   subordinate clause.)

1. Susie plays the drums. She plays in the school
   band. (Insert a phrase.)

1. The downpour began at midnight. It was still
   raining the next morning. (Make a compound
   sentence.)

End of Section
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Review A
Combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
The hints is parentheses will help you decide
what combining method to use.

1. The baby gave me a bright smile.

1. Mother has installed new blinds, which block the
   bright afternoon sun.

1. Susie plays the drums in the school band.

1. The downpour began at midnight, and it was still
   raining the next morning.

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Review B
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you
have learned, revise and rewrite the following
paragraph without changing its original meaning.
Dr. James Naismith invented the game of
basketball. He invented it in the late 1800s. The
first basketball teams started in 1891. They had
nine players instead of five. The first basket
was a peach basket. A player had to retrieve the
ball. This happened when a score was made.
End of Section
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Review B
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you
have learned, revise and rewrite the following
paragraph without changing its original meaning.
Possible Answers
Dr. James Naismith invented the game of
basketball in the late 1800s. The first
basketball teams started in 1891, and they had
nine players instead of five. The first basket
was a peach basket. A player had to retrieve the
ball when a score was made.
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The End