How to combine Sentences
Combining sentences
• Use “glue words” (subordinating conjunctions such as after, although, because, since, though, unless, until, when, where, while).
Ex. The vacuum cleaner was making a grinding noise. The vacuum cleaner was broken.
Revised: Because the vacuum cleaner was broken, it made a grinding noise.
• Use “locator words” (prepositions)
Ex. Maria gorged on the dumplings. The dumplings were from her mother’s stew.
Revise: Maria gorged on the dumplings from her mother’s stew.
• Use FANBOYS (coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so with compound sentences).
Ex. Roger rode his exercise bike. Roger listened to his Walkman.
Revised: Roger rode his exercise bike, and he listened to his Walkman.
• Embed –ING words (present participles)
Ex. The thief raced down the street. The thief almost slammed into the wall.
Revised: Racing down the street, the thief almost slammed into the wall.
• Embed –ED words (past participles)
Ex. The Xerox copier was invented by Chester Carlson in 1938. It has made the work of secretaries much easier.
Revised: The Xerox copier, invented by Chester Carlson in 1938, has made the work of secretaries much easier.
• Embed –WH words
Ex. Snowmobiling is a dangerous sport. It is enjoyed by many Midwesterners.
Snowmobiling, which is a dangerous sport, is enjoyed by many Midwesterners.
• Embed a phrase using, …, or using : … ( called appositives)
Ex. Marie wrote about Alice Walker. Alice Walker was the author of The Color Purple.
Revised: Marie wrote about Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple, for her term paper.
Ex. Carmelo values three things in life. These three things are family, friends, and work.
Revised: Carmelo values three things in life: family, friends, and work.
• Embed adjectives and adverbs
Ex. He’s handsome. His face is rugged looking. He has a nice grin.
Revised: His ruggedly handsome face grins in a nice smile.
Exercises:
1. Mrs. Hunnicutt used to teach English. She can recite hundred of lines of poetry.
2. Mrs. Hunnicutt first taught in a one-room schoolhouse. Her teaching career began at fourteen.
3. In 1967, Christiaan Barnard, who was a forty-five-year-old surgeon in South Africa, performed the first heart transplant.
4. One frequently mentioned name was listed because of his power in the world. That name was George W. Bush.
5. Other popular choices were athletes, especially Pete Rose. Rose is a hustling hitter now holding the record for most career hits.
6. We went to see him at his place of business. It was Monday morning.
7. The boxer hit his opponent. The opponent was weary. The boxer hit hard. He hit the opponent in the stomach.
8. Jorge raced to the hospital five miles away. He prayed that his wife would not die.
9. The store manager tried to get the little girl to calm down. He offered her some candy.
10. She saw the candy. She slapped his hand and knocked the candy to the floor.
11. The woman called the police. She was terrified.
12. The old man knew he was lost. He was tired. He was frightened.
from Dee Seligman - PGSP
|
|
