1. 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

2. When should you combine sentences?
Wouldn’t it be boring to have the exact same weather...
every...
single...
day?

3. When should you combine sentences? Too many short sentences
Reading the same type of sentence over and over again can also be boring.
Now see how sentence combining makes the paragraph shorter and more interesting.
Notice how too many short sentences make this paragraph boring to read.
Thomas Edison created a talking doll in 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 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]

4. 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
Ken gave me a beautiful rose. The rose was pink.
pink
rose.
pink.
You may have to change the form of the word.
Roses come from
Roses come from shrubs. The shrubs have thorns.
thorny
shrubs.
thorny
thorns

5. 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]

6. 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
Brown bears gather in groups. They gather near rivers.
near rivers.
near rivers.
During her hike
Tina spotted a snake. She spotted it during her hike.
Tina spotted a snake.
during her hike.

7. 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]

8. How to combine sentences Using and, but, or or
You can combine sentences by using the coordinating conjunctions and, but, or or.
And shows similarity.
Katie and Tyrone both enjoy crossword puzzles.
But shows a contrast.
Katie likes crossword puzzles but hates word-find puzzles.
Or shows a choice.
Tyrone or Katie will help you solve that crossword puzzle.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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]

12. 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, and I made the soup.
Jan sliced the bread.
I made the soup.
Brett likes math.
Bret likes math, but Greta prefers science.
Greta prefers science.

13. 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]

14. 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.
Independent clause
Subordinate clause
Amy painted the walls.
Amy painted the walls while I cleaned the floor.
I cleaned the floor.
while I cleaned the floor
The subordinate clause adds information by telling what else was going on while Amy was painting.
Attach the subordinate clause
When you combine sentences this way, you get a complex sentence.

15. 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.
who has helped many people
He has helped many people.
Attach the subordinate clause
Subject
He runs the local food bank.
He runs the local food bank, which feeds thousands.
which feeds thousands.
It feeds thousands.
Attach the subordinate clause

16. 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 you’ll have to change the other sentence slightly before inserting the subordinate clause.
After we watched the match, we had lunch.
We watched the match.
after we watched the match
Then we had lunch.
Attach the subordinate clause

17. How to combine sentences Using subordinate clauses
You can also make a subordinate clause by adding a word that indicates place, such as where.
A shed now stands on the spot.
A shed now stands on the spot where the tree grew.
where the tree grew.
The tree grew there.
Attach the subordinate clause
They went to Rome.
They went to Rome, where they saw the Vatican.
where they saw the Vatican.
They saw the Vatican there.
Attach the subordinate clause

18. 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]

19. Review A
Combine each of the following pairs of sentences. The hints in parentheses will help you decide what combining method to use.
The baby gave me a smile. The smile was bright. (Insert a key word.)
Mother has installed new blinds. They block the bright afternoon sun. (Use which to begin a subordinate clause.)
Susie plays the drums. She plays in the school band. (Insert a phrase.)
The downpour began at midnight. It was still raining the next morning. (Make a compound sentence.)
[End of Section]

20. 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 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]

21. The End