1. Combining Sentences CHAPTER 3
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb.
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, yet, so, or, nor, and for) join elements of equal rank.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Compound Sentences
(Continued)
The coordinating conjunction must show the correct relationship between the two clauses and should be preceded by a comma.
Tina scored 23 points, and Pat hit a basket from half-court.
Tina scored 23 points, but her team lost anyway.
Tina scored 23 points, so she was named MVP.
Tina may play basketball next year, or she may play soccer.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Run-on Sentences
A run-on sentence contains too many thoughts or strings together too many clauses without conjunctions.
I usually ride the bus to work today it was late I had to take a cab.
To fix a run-on, break it up into two or more sentences and/or add a comma and a conjunction.
I usually ride the bus to work. Today it was late, so I had to take a cab.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Commas with "And"
Use a comma before and if it connects two independent clauses.
Nate plays the guitar, and Andrea plays the piano.
Use a comma before and in a series of three or more compound elements.
Singing, dancing, and clowning are all classes offered at the drama school.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Commas with "And"
(Continued)
DO NOT use a comma with and if it connects only two compound elements.
Nate plays the guitar and the piano.
Singing and dancing are classes offered at the drama school.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

7. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains a dependent clause connected to an independent clause by a subordinating conjunction.
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, but a dependent clause cannot.
If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, place a comma before the independent clause.
Even though the sun is shining brightly, it’s very cold out.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

8. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Complex Sentences
(Continued)
If the independent clause comes before the dependent clause, do not use a comma.
It’s very cold out even though the sun is shining brightly.
The conjunction must show the correct relationship between the two clauses:
Time relationship: before, while, as soon as
Cause and effect: because, since, so that
Condition: if, unless, whether
Comparison/contrast: as if, although, whereas
Place: wherever
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

9. Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
Sentence fragments are often dependent clauses standing alone. In a paragraph, you can fix such a fragment by connecting it to an independent clause. Any clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction must be attached to an independent clause.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

10. Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
(Continued)
Find and correct the sentence fragments in the following paragraph:
Before there was Star Wars or E.T. There were books about distant civilizations and extra terrestrial beings. Many people act as if science fiction movies are incredibly original, yet they draw on a long tradition of books and short stories. No one believed humans would ever walk on the Moon. When Jules Verne first wrote about a trip there.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

11. Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Dependent Clauses in a Paragraph
(Continued)
Here is the same paragraph written correctly:
Before there was Star Wars or E.T., there were books about distant civilizations and extra terrestrial beings. Many people act as if science fiction movies are incredibly original, yet they draw on a long tradition of books and short stories. No one believed humans would ever walk on the Moon when Jules Verne first wrote about a trip there.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

12. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Comma Splices
A comma splice is an error in which two clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a conjunction.
Incorrect: Lin painted the living room today, she will do the hallway tomorrow.
Correct: Lin painted the living room today, and she will do the hallway tomorrow.
Correct: Lin painted the living room today. She will do the hallway tomorrow.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

13. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Comma Splices
(Continued)
Make sure the linking word you use is really a conjunction. For example, the word however is not a conjunction.
Incorrect: Jane gave up candy, however she still eats cookies.
Correct: Jane gave up candy, but she still eats cookies.
Correct: Jane gave up candy although she still eats cookies.
Correct: Jane gave up candy. However, she still eats cookies.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

14. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Rewriting Sentences
Guidelines for writing sentences with more than one clause:
They can be less choppy and more interesting than short, one-clause sentences.
They must contain a conjunction to join the two clauses.
Never use a comma by itself to join two clauses.
The meaning of the conjunction must accurately represent the relationship between the clauses.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

15. CHAPTER 3: Combining Sentences
Rewriting Sentences
(Continued)
Once you know these guidelines, you can rewrite sentences correctly in different ways:
Unless Jared maintains a C average, we won’t let him use the car.
If Jared doesn’t maintain a C average, we won’t let him use the car.
We will let Jared use the car as long as he maintains a C average.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

16. Sentence Construction on the GED Test
CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
Sentence Construction on the GED Test
Choose the one best answer to the question below.
Sentences 1 and 2: Daylight Savings Time started last week. It’s still dark when I get up.
The most effective combination of these sentences would include which group of words?
(1) Because Daylight Savings Time
(2) Unless Daylight Savings Time
(3) Yet Daylight Savings Time
(4) Although Daylight Savings Time
(5) When Daylight Savings Time 
Answer choice (4) is correct. It shows the correct relationship between the two clauses.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

17. CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
Sequence of Tenses
When there are two clauses in a sentence, the tense of each verb must work logically (in sequence) with the tense of the other verb.
When the rains come, Maria’s basement will be flooded.
The present tense come with the conjunction when indicates that the action will take place in the near future. Therefore, the future tense will be flooded makes sense.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

18. Effective Revisions Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
Effective Revisions
Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
Change verbs from passive to active. With an active verb, the subject is doing the acting. With a passive verb, the subject is acted upon.
Passive: The dinner was cooked by Javier.
Active: Javier cooked the dinner.
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19. Effective Revisions Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
Effective Revisions
(Continued)
Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
Look for repeated words or phrases and try to combine ideas.
Wordy: The salesclerks are responsible for ringing up the purchases of customers, and the salesclerks are also responsible for keeping the store looking clean and neat as a pin.
Clearer: The salesclerks are responsible for ringing up customers’ purchases and keeping the store as neat as a pin.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

20. Effective Revisions Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
Effective Revisions
(Continued)
Guidelines for tightening up wordy sentences:
Remember that run-on sentences are too wordy.
Wordy: I want to find a job where I can use my computer skills. And I want to find a job where I get to do something creative I get so tired of being told to keyboard and not to think.
Clearer: I want a job where I can use my computer skills and get to be creative. I get tired of being told to keyboard and not to think.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

21. CHAPTER 3: Sentence Combining
THE END
Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking the Chapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice Quiz.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.