Sentence+Combining

= By Rory Christopher and Sam McColl. = = Exercise #1  =


 * Revise these paragraphs using compound and complex sentences.**

Paragraph 1: It was a dark and stormy night, and the wind was high. The trees waved and crashed against the barn. I looked around me and saw that I wasn’t alone. A man stood behind me, he was tall and mean. He had a knife which was shining in the moonlight. It was long and slender, as he reached back, he stabbed with it. I jumped out of the way, and ran.

Paragraph 2: Tom prefers baseball to basketball because baseball seems more interesting to him. Tom feels baseball is a gentleman’s sport and baseball is more structured than basketball. Baseball requires athletes to use more skill than aggression when playing, and Tom respects baseball players the most because of this.

= ** Exercise #2 ** = 1. I always order cheese fries because they're my favorite. 2. In high school I had a boyfriend named Bob, we dated for eight months, but then I met Mike. 3. The tree fell on the house, and was a sycamore; because of the high winds, but my grandmother wasn't hurt. 4. My dog's name is George, and he is a Golden Retriever; he loves to play Frisbee, and he also loves to swim, too. 5. My parents gave me a car, and that is why I'm able to afford to go to college, but I still work part-time, at Wal-Mart as a cashier. //and, but, or, so, yet, nor// 6. Some students stay on the sidewalks, and some students cut across the grass. 7. Students have to park far from their classrooms, so they are often late for class. 8. Trash cans have been placed all over campus, but students still throw garbage on the ground. 9. The administration promised to improve dining hall service, yet the quality of the food is actually worse this year. 10. These students do not respect the feelings of others, nor they don't seem to respect themselves. 11. We must stand up for our rights today, or we may find ourselves with no rights at all.
 * Combine each set of short sentences and fragments into one sentence.**
 * Combine these six pairs of sentences using the coordinating conjunctions listed below. Use each conjunction only one time.**

//unless, because, even though, while, although, though// 12. Some students stay on the sidewalks while some students cut across the grass. 13. Students have to park far from their classrooms even though they are often late for class. 14. Trash cans have been placed all over campus although students still throw garbage on the ground. 15. The administration promised to improve dining hall service even though the quality of the food is actually worse this year. 16. These students do not respect the feelings of others because they don't seem to respect themselves. 17. Unless we must stand up for our rights today we may find ourselves with no rights at all.
 * Combine the same sentences above using the subordinating conjunctions listed below. Again, use each conjunction only one time.**

= ** Exercise #7 ** = = **Sentence Combining Worksheets** = Knowing how to combine sentences is essential when writing. If you were unable to properly combine sentences, each sentence would be very short, simple and boring. Unfortunately, the rules for combining sentences can be somewhat complex. This worksheet helps with some examples of sentences to combine so you can get lots of practice combining sentences.

**Simple Sentence Combining Worksheet**
Combine the following sentences with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). 1) She went to work, but she did not want to go. 2) The scientists trained him well, for they helped him find a job when his training was through. 3) Polar bears are fierce, territorial animals, yet grizzly bears are the same. 4) Mark told me not to come with him, yet he looked longingly at me as I left. 5) I will not give in to you, nor will I let you push me around. 6) He loves to drive during the day, yet they will let him drive before 9pm. 7) My cat was hungry, for it had not eaten since breakfast. 8) They couldn’t think of anything better to do, so they decided to baby-sit for the family. 9) A book can be a lot of fun to read, but a book can be boring. 10) That movie looks great, and I would love to come see it with you.

**Sentence Combining Using Subordinating Conjunctions**
Combine the following sentences with a subordinating conjunction (after all, although, because, before, however, therefore). This may require a semicolon! 11) They made plans to go, however they ended up not being able to make it. 12) Some people say that dogs are friendlier than cats, although cats can also be extremely loving. 13) What we’ve accomplished is a milestone; therefore, let’s raise our glasses for a toast. 14) Dr. Johnson ate a big meal, before he went to work. 15) I simply cannot get out of bed, because I am too tired. 16) Don’t give me a hard time, after all, we’ve been close friends for so long. 17) We don’t believe the way you do, because our culture is very different from yours. 18) I can’t believe that you would do something so crazy, although, if I were you I might do the same. 19) The two weren’t always this close, when she died, they became closer. 20) I refused to talk about it, therefore I was put in jail.

**Sentence Combining with Subjects and Verbs**
The following sentences share either the same subject or the same verb. Combine the sentences however you can. 21) Mr. Brown walked to the store, his pet monkey Ralph also walked to the store. 22) The cactus is thirsty, because the cactus is not getting enough sunlight. 23) My mug was in the cupboard, now my mug is not in the cupboard. 24) Drew’s dog jumped into the air, and Janine’s dog jumped into the air as well. 25) The book fell to the floor, and it opened to a page I had never read before. 26) Your face has scars on it, but your face looks friendly. 27) Why did you say that word, it was extremely rude. 28) Everyone is lying to me, because they’re trying to keep me from learning what they know. 29) Stop dancing like that, and sit down in your chair. 30) Thomas’ friends seemed so strange, because they were hanging up every time they called.