1. Combining Sentences When should you combine sentences?
How to combine sentences
Inserting words and phrases
Using compound subjects and verbs
Creating compound sentences
Creating complex sentences
Review A
Review B

2. When should you combine sentences?
Too much of the same thing can be boring.
Imagine eating the same thing for lunch
day...
after day...
after day...

3. When should you combine 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.
A geyser is a spring that shoots hot water into the air with great force. While some geysers erupt continually, some remain dormant for long periods.
A geyser is a spring. A geyser shoots hot water. It shoots water into the air with great force. Some geysers erupt continually. Some remain dormant for long periods.
[End of Section]

4. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
Combine short sentences by taking a key word from one sentence and inserting it into the other.
key word
Edgar Allan Poe led a short life. His life was tragic.
Edgar Allan Poe led a short,
tragic
life.
tragic.
You may have to change the form of the word.
Poe wrote strange,
Poe wrote strange stories. He wrote horror stories.
horrifying
stories.
horrifying
horror
The Tell-Tale Heart

5. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
When changing the form of a word, you often add an ending that makes the word an adjective or an adverb.
Grammar Gal Says...
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
horror
horrifying
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
calm
calmly

6. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
You can also combine sentences by inserting a phrase from one sentence into another.
Prepositional Phrase
This car can park easily
This car can park easily. It can park in tight spaces.
in tight spaces.
in tight spaces.
Participial Phrase
Focusing on the ball,
Sam swung the bat. He was focusing on the ball.
Sam swung the bat.
focusing on the ball.
Appositive Phrase
There we met Chula,
There we met Chula. Chula is Sandra’s dog.
Sandra’s dog.
Sandra’s dog.

7. How to combine sentences Prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase contains
a preposition
a noun or pronoun
= object of the preposition
any modifiers of the object
beneath
the beautiful fall
leaves
leaves

8. How to combine sentences Participial phrase
A participial phrase contains
a verb form usually ending in –ing or –ed
a noun, pronoun, or adjective
= complement of the participle
any modifiers
feeling
confident
in himself

9. How to combine sentences Appositive phrase
An appositive is a word that identifies a nearby noun or pronoun.
I gave my mother flowers for her birthday.
I gave my mother flowers, tulips, for her birthday.
An appositive phrase consists of an appositive and its modifiers.
I gave my mother flowers, a dozen pink tulips, for her birthday.

10. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
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. Plants are used to make products. These products are beauty products.
2. Malik ran toward the goal. His pace was quick. (Change quick to quickly.)
3. Migrant workers move constantly. They search for work. (Change search to searching.)

11. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
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. Plants are used to make beauty products.
The sentences have been combined so that the word beauty modifies products.

12. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
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.
Possible Answer
2. Malik ran quickly toward the goal.
The sentences have been combined so that the word quickly modifies ran.

13. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
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.
Possible Answer
3. Searching for work, migrant workers move constantly.
The sentences have been combined so that the phrase Searching for work modifies workers.

14. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
On Your Own
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. Squirrels climbed up and down the tree. The tree was old.
2. The docks are at the end of a road. The road curves. (Change curves to curving.)
3. Amy just got braces. Amy is a friend of mine.
4. Book three tells of the heroes’ return. Book three completes the series. (Change complete to completing.)
[End of Section]

15. How to combine sentences Inserting words and phrases
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. Squirrels climbed up and down the old tree.
2. The docks are at the end of a curving road.
3. Amy, a friend of mine, just got braces.
4. Completing the series, book three tells of the heroes’ return.

16. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
You can also combine sentences by making compound subjects and verbs.
Step 1. Look for sentences that have the same subject or the same verb.
Ice reduces swelling.
Ice reduces swelling.
SAME SUBJECT =
COMPOUND VERB
Ice relieves pain.
Ice relieves pain.
Jaguars have spots.
Jaguars have spots.
SAME VERB =
COMPOUND SUBJECT
Leopards have spots.
Leopards have spots.

17. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Step 2. Join the verbs or subjects of the two sentences with a coordinating conjunction such as and, or, or but. IF
THEN
Subjects are the same
Keep the subject and join the verbs
Verbs are the same
Ice reduces swelling.
Ice reduces swelling and relieves pain.
Ice relieves pain.
Keep the verb and join the subjects
Jaguars have spots.
Jaguars and leopards have spots.
Leopards have spots.

18. How to combine sentences 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.

19. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb. Be prepared to explain your answers.
1. Bananas are a tropical fruit. Coconuts are also a tropical fruit.
2. Ben had planned to be here. Ben later changed his mind.
3. Vince could design the banner. Otherwise, Lan could design it.

20. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb. Be prepared to explain your answers.
1. Bananas and coconuts are tropical fruits.
Since both sentences had the same verb, the combined sentence has a compound subject. Fruits is plural since the sentence is now about more than one kind of fruit.

21. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb. Be prepared to explain your answers.
2. Ben had planned to be here but later changed his mind.
Since both sentences had the same subject, the combined sentence has a compound verb. The conjunction but expresses a contrast in ideas.

22. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb. Be prepared to explain your answers.
3. Vince or Lan could design the banner.
Since both sentences have the same verb, the combined sentence has a compound subject. The conjunction or shows a choice between two possibilities.

23. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb.
1. Plastic can be recycled. Paper can be recycled.
2. Glaciers move slowly. Glaciers shape the land.
3. A temple may have stood here once. A storehouse may have stood here.
Cranes nest near the lake. Other birds nest there, too.
5. The skier jumped far. He failed to beat the record.
[End of Section]

24. How to combine sentences Using compound subjects and verbs
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound subject or a compound verb.
1. Plastic and paper can be recycled.
2. Glaciers move slowly and shape the land.
3. A temple or a storehouse stood here once.
4. Cranes and other birds nest near the lake.
5. The skier jumped far but failed to beat the record.

25. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
If the 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
a semicolon OR
a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb
We went there; however, they came here.
We went there.
We went there, but they came here.
We went there; they came here.
They came here.

26. How to combine sentences 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 each other. It expresses a relationship between two independent clauses.

27. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Notice the difference between a compound subject or verb and a compound sentence.
Grammar Gal Says...
In a compound sentence, each half of the sentence has its own subject and its own verb.
Subject
Verb
Subject
Verb
We went there, but they came here.
We went there, but they came here.
We went there, but they came here.

28. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your answers.
1. The storm began with heavy rain. Hail fell soon after.
2. A majority of U.S. residents were born here. One out of every ten is an immigrant.
3. The newly discovered animal has a pouch. It may be related to the kangaroo.

29. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your answers.
Possible Answer
1. The storm began with heavy rain, and hail fell soon after.
The conjunction and shows that the two ideas are related and equal in importance.

30. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your answers.
Possible Answer
2. A majority of U.S. residents were born here, but one out of every ten is an immigrant.
The conjunction but shows that the two ideas contrast.

31. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Combine the following short sentences by forming a compound sentence. Be prepared to explain your answers.
Possible Answer
3. The newly discovered animal has a pouch; therefore, it may be related to the kangaroo.
The semicolon shows that the two ideas are closely related. The conjunctive adverb therefore indicates cause and effect.

32. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound sentence.
1. Clients drop off scrap metal. Workers sort it into piles.
2. Adults must buy a ticket. Children get in free.
3. We already have milk. Buy just a half gallon.
4. I am not afraid of snakes. I used to keep one as a pet.
5. A French company began building the Panama Canal in The U.S. took over construction in 1903.
[End of Section]

33. How to combine sentences Creating compound sentences
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by forming a compound sentence.
1. Clients drop off scrap metal, and workers sort it into piles.
2. Adults must buy a ticket, but children get in free.
3. We already have milk, so buy just a half gallon.
4. I am not afraid of snakes; I used to keep one as a pet.
5. A French company began building the Panama Canal in 1881; however, the U.S. took over construction in

34. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Another way to combine sentences is to form a complex sentence.
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Independent Clause
Subordinate Clause
The audience clapped
until the entire choir had left.

35. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Complex sentences can be reversible. Notice the addition of the comma after the subordinate clause.
Subordinate Clause
Independent Clause
Until the entire choir had left,
the audience clapped.

36. How to combine sentences Independent clause
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 audience clapped.
The audience clapped.
The audience clapped.
Subject
Verb
The Littles had too few chairs for all the guests.
The Littles had too few chairs for all the guests.
The Littles had too few chairs for all the guests.

37. How to combine sentences Subordinate clause
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 expresses a complete thought.
 IIC0066B.jpg
What happened until the choir had left?
Subject
Verb
until the entire choir had left
until the entire choir had left
until the entire choir had left

38. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
There are three types of subordinate clauses: adjective, adverb, and noun clauses. Each type can replace an ordinary adjective, adverb, or noun.
Adjective Clause
Adjective
Gili wants the
Gili wants the bicycle
blue
bicycle.
that is blue.
Adverb Clause
Adverb
I read the newspaper
as I eat breakfast.
daily.
Noun
Noun Clause
The detective revealed
who committed the crime.
the culprit.

39. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Here’s another way to think about clauses.
Grammar Gal Says...
An adverbial clause (or phrase) answers the same questions that adverbs answer–when? where? why? how often? to what extent? in what manner?
A noun clause (or phrase) can be replaced by the words something or someone.
An adjective clause (or phrase) answers the same questions that adjectives answer–which one? what kind? how many?

40. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Make one sentence into an adjective clause by replacing the subject with who, which, or that.
which
Many people fear bats.
They are usually harmless. ^
Then, use the adjective clause to provide information about a noun or pronoun that has come before.
Many people fear bats, which are usually harmless.

41. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
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.
Grammar Gal Says...
Many people fear bats, which are usually harmless.
NOT ESSENTIAL
Are these the bats that are usually harmless or the dangerous ones?
ESSENTIAL

42. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Turn one sentence into an adverb clause by adding a subordinating conjunction such as after, although, because, if, when, or where.
I called before I received your message.
I called.
I received your message.
If the adverb clause begins a sentence, follow the clause with a comma.
Before I received your message, I called.

43. How to combine sentences Subordinating conjunction
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.

44. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Turn a sentence into a noun clause by adding a word like that, how, what, who, or whoever to the beginning of the sentence.
The coach told him.
The coach told him
that he had advanced to the finals.
He had advanced to the finals.
Insert the clause into another sentence just as you would an ordinary noun.
ORDINARY NOUN
The coach told him the news.
NOUN CLAUSE
The coach told him that he had advanced to the finals.

45. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
When you place the noun clause in another sentence, you may have to change or remove some words.
Grammar Gal Says...
That ^
Dracula is such a frightening character.
That Dracula is such a frightening character does not help the bat’s reputation.
This does not help the bat’s reputation.

46. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Combine the following short sentences by turning the second sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
1. Vera keeps all the cards. People send them to her. (adjective clause)
2. It rained during the fireworks. They still had a good time. (adverb clause)
3. Return this backpack. Return it to the person who left it. (noun clause)

47. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Combine the following short sentences by turning the second sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
Possible Answer
1. Vera keeps all the cards that people send to her.
The sentences have been combined so that the clause that people send to her modifies cards.

48. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Combine the following short sentences by turning the second sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
Possible Answer
2. Although it rained during the fireworks, they still had a good time.
The sentences have been combined so that the clause although it rained during the fireworks modifies had.

49. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Combine the following short sentences by turning the second sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
Possible Answer
3. Return this backpack to whoever left it.
The sentences have been combined so that the clause whoever left it acts as the object of the preposition.

50. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
On Your Own
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
1. This glue is like spider silk. Spider silk is very strong. (adjective clause)
2. The bridge was built. Before then, drivers had to take a ferry. (adverb clause)
3. We hope. You will visit us again. (noun clause)
The coin is very rare. I am holding the coin. (adjective clause).
[End of Section]

51. How to combine sentences Creating complex sentences
Possible Answers
Combine each pair of sentences by turning one sentence into an adjective, adverb, or noun clause, as indicated in parentheses.
1. This glue is like spider silk, which is very strong.
2. Before the bridge was built, drivers had to take a ferry.
3. We hope that you will visit us again.
4. The coin that I am holding is very rare.

52. Review A
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you have learned, combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
The large bird gave a cry. Its cry was noisy.
We found out. People have painted for thousands of years.
Daryl led the national anthem. Daryl is a trained singer.
Drops of rain fell into the fire. The fire let out clouds of steam.
5. Three plumbers have tried to fix the sink. It keeps leaking.
[End of Section]

53. Review A
Possible Answers
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you have learned, combine each of the following pairs of sentences.
The large bird gave a noisy cry.
We found out that people have painted for thousands of years.
Daryl, a trained singer, led the national anthem.
Drops of rain fell into the fire, which let out clouds of steam.
5. Three plumbers have tried to fix the sink; however, it keeps leaking.

54. Review B
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you have learned, revise and rewrite the following paragraph without changing its original meaning.
Stonehenge is in southwestern England. It is a series of stones. They are huge stones. The stones weigh as much as fifty tons each. They were set up over five thousand years ago. They were moved by as many as one thousand people.
[End of Section]

55. Review B
Using all of the sentence-combining skills you have learned, revise and rewrite the following paragraph without changing its original meaning.
Possible Answer
Stonehenge is a series of huge stones in southwestern England. Weighing as much as fifty tons each, the stones were set up over five thousand years ago and were moved by as many as one thousand people.
Item picked up from Gr. 9, p. 338 (some alteration)
Image:

56. The End