Sentence Combining Using Coordinating Conjunctions

Sentence Combining Using Coordinating Conjunctions


You can combine sentences in several different ways:

1. Share a word.
2. Insert a group of words (phrases) from one sentence into another sentence.
3. Other times you can combine two related sentences by using a connecting word.

3. Sentence Combining Using Connecting Words (conjunctions):

Another way to combine sentences is by using conjunctions and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet that allow you to join closely related sentences and sentence parts and create compound sentences.

Original: Children didn t want to work in factories. They had to make money.
(indep. clause) (conj) (indep. clause)
Combined: Children didn t want to work in factories, but they had to make money.

If two sentences have the same subject, you can combine them with coordinating conjunctions by making a compound verb.
Original: Children should have the right to participate in political and legal decisions that affect them. Children should get to live free from hunger, abuse, neglect, and other inhumane conditions.

Combined: Children should have the right to participate in political and legal decisions that affect themand should get to live free from hunger, abuse, neglect, and other inhumane conditions.


The two original sentences have the same predicate; therefore, when combined, a compound subject is created.

Original: Children worked in factories. Adults worked in factories

Combined: Children and Adults worked in factories.




Sentence Combining Using Subordinating Conjunctions
You can combine sentences in several different ways:

1. Share a word.
2. Insert a group of words (phrases) from one sentence into another sentence.
3. Other times you can combine two related sentences by using a connecting word.

3. Sentence Combining Using Connecting Words (subordinating conjunctions):

Independent clauses are complete thoughts containing subjects and verbs that are connected to other independent or dependent clauses by coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, or a semicolon.
Dependent clauses are incomplete thoughts that begin with a subordinating conjunction.


Sometimes two sentences can share a complete thought. You have already learned that complex sentences have a dependent clause (fragment) and an independent clause (complete thought). In some cases, you can take an independent clause from one sentence and make it the dependent clause in another sentence, joining them as one using a subordinating conjunction. This creates a complex sentence.

(indep. clause) (indep. clause)
Original: They had to find a way to earn money that they needed to survive. They had to send their kids to work with the high probability of getting hurt.
(indep. clause) (sub. conj) (indep. clause that becomes a dep. clause)
Combined: They had to find a way to get the money that they needed to survive, even if they had to send their kids to work with the high probability of the kids getting hurt.

You may want to combine two sentences where one helps explain the other sentence by telling how, where, why, or when. Use a subordinating conjunction (connecting word) for a complex sentence that has at least two parts: one that can stand alone and one that cannot.



After Sentence Combining
After sentence combining, be sure to read your new sentence carefully asking yourself the following questions:

Is my new sentence clear?

Does it make sense?

Does it sound better than the two shorter sentences?

Dependent Clauses
A Dependent Clause contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. Words that introducedependent clauses are subordinating conjunctions:

Adverb clauses that begin with subordinating conjunctions:

After I left the ballgame
Although the class had already started
As the runner crossed the finish line
As if I had known the whole time
As long as I finish on time
As soon as I arrive for practice
Because he was allergic to bee stings
Before I even knew what happened
If I saved my extra change
Since I made a good choice
So that I would not get lost
While I waited for my turn
Unless my mom changes her mind
Until we completely run out
When you play in the pouring rain
Whenever the snow storm hits
Where the street comes to a dead end
Wherever we decide to meet
Whether it is sweet or sour

Adjective clauses that begin with relative pronouns:
S+ Adjective Clause + V

Who overcame handicaps
Whose friend I met yesterday
Which I completed on time
That I sent you in the mail