Combining Sentences

Combining Sentences

A sentence expresses a complete thought. Several thoughts express an idea; whereas, several sentences comprise a paragraph. When composing a sentence, remember to stick to a single thought. A sentence must be designed to accommodate the thought it presents—a simple sentence for a simple thought and a complex sentence for a complex thought. Ideas are thoughts expressed in coordination and subordination with each other.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, so, for, and yet. These words connect two independent clauses and a comma usually precedes each of the conjunctions.

My body was tired. My legs seemed to become fatigued as I took each step.

Combined sentence:
My body was tired, and my legs seemed to become more fatigued as I took each step.

Combine the two parts of a thought (the what and the why) in a way that makes the relationship between them clear at a glance. Use gerund phrases, infinitive phrases, participial phrases and adjective clauses to highlight relationships.

My brother was in an ugly mood. He had stayed up all night. He was writing a grant proposal.

Tome won the sack race. Then he ran in the relay. He did not stop to rest in between.

Combined sentence:
My brother, who had stayed up all night to write a grant proposal, was in an ugly mood.

After winning the sack race, Tome ran in the relay, without stopping to rest n between.

Complex sentences are used to express subordinating thoughts. Subordination occurs when a dependent clause is attached to an independent clause. These are some common subordinating conjunctions and the logical relationship they express:

Time: when, whenever, until, til, before, after, while, once, as soon as, as long as
Place: where, wherever
Cause: because, as since
Condition: if, even if, unless
Contrast: although, though, even though, whereas, while
Comparison: than, as, as if , as though
Purpose: so that, that
Result: so/such … that

We cannot end our differences. At least we can help make the world safe for diversity.

He would go out into the street rather than walk under a ladder.

Timmy darted across the driveway. His father was just backing the car out of the garage.

Combined sentence:
If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. –John F. Kennedy

Although Vincent sneered at his sister’s fear of cats, he was so superstitious himself that he would rather go out into the street rather than walk under a ladder.

Just as his father was backing the car out of the garage, Timmy darted across the driveway.

Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1996.