Sentence+Combining

= Exercise #7 = = Sentence Combining Worksheets = Knowing how to combine sentences is essential when writing. If you were unable to properly combine sentences, each sentence would be very short, simple and boring. Unfortunately, the rules for combining sentences can be somewhat complex. This worksheet helps with some examples of sentences to combine so you can get lots of practice combining sentences.

Simple Sentence Combining Worksheet
Combine the following sentences with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). 1) She went to work. She did not want to go. She went to work, but she did not want to go. 2) The scientists trained him well. They helped him find a job when his training was through. The scientists trained him well, so they helped him find a job when his training was through, 3) Polar bears are fierce, territorial animals. Grizzly bears are the same. Polar bears are fierce, territorial animals and Grizzly bears are the same. 4) Mark told me not to come with him. He looked longingly at me as I left. Mark told me not to come with him, yet he looked longingly at me as I left. 5) I will not give in to you. I will not let you push me around. I will not give in to you, nor will I let you push me around. 6) He loves to drive during the day. They will let him drive before 9pm. He loves to drive around during the day, so they will let him drive before 9 p.m. 7) My cat was hungry. It had not eaten since breakfast. My cat was hungry for it had not eaten since breakfast. 8) They couldn’t think of anything better to do. They decided to baby-sit for the family. They couldn't think of anything better to do, so they decided to baby-sit for the family. 9) A book can be a lot of fun to read. A book can be boring. A book can be a lot of fun to read, or a book c an be boring. 10) That movie looks great! I would love to come see it with you. That movie looks great, and I would love to come see it with you!

Sentence Combining Using Subordinating Conjunctions
Combine the following sentences with a subordinating conjunction (after all, although, because, before, however, therefore). This may require a semicolon! 11) They made plans to go. They ended up not being able to make it. Although they made plans to go, they ended up not being able to make it. 12) Some say that dogs are friendlier than cats. Cats can also be extremely loving. Some say that dogs are friendlier than cats, however cats can also be extremely loving. 13) What we’ve accomplished is a milestone. Let’s raise our glasses for a toast. What we've accomplished is a milestone; therefore, let's raise our glasses for a toast. 14) Dr. Johnson ate a big meal. He went to work afterward. Before Dr. Johnson went to work, he at a big meal. 15) I simply cannot get out of bed. I am too tired. I simply cannot get out of bed, because I am too tired. 16) Don’t give me a hard time. We’ve been close friends for so long. Don't give me a hard time, after all we've been close friends for so long. 17) We don’t believe the way you do. Our culture is very different from yours. We don't believe the way you do, because our culture is very different from yours. 18) I can’t believe that you would do something so crazy. If I were you I might do the same. I can't believe that you would do something so crazy; however, if I were you I might do the same. 19) The two weren’t always this close. When she died, they became closer. Although the two weren't always this close, when she died, they became closer. 20) I refused to talk about it. I was put in jail. I refused to talk about it; therefore, I was put in jail.

Sentence Combining with Subjects and Verbs
The following sentences share either the same subject or the same verb. Combine the sentences however you can. 21) Mr. Brown walked to the store. His pet monkey Ralph walked along with him. Mr. Brown walked to the store, and his pet monkey Ralph walked along with him. 22) The cactus is thirsty. The cactus is not getting enough sunlight. The cactus is thirsty; yet, it is not getting enough sunlight. 23) My mug was in the cupboard. My mug is no longer in the cupboard. My mug was in the cupboard, but it is no longer in there. 24) Drew’s dog jumped into the air. Janine’s dog jumped into the air as well. Drew's dog jumped into the air, while Janine's dog jumped into the air as well. 25) The book fell to the floor. It opened to a page I had never read before. The book fell to the floor, and it opened to a page I had never read before. 26) Your face has scars on it. Your face looks friendly. Even though your face has scars on it, your face looks friendly. 27) Why did you say that word? It was extremely rude. Why did you say that word, for it was extremely rude? 28) Everyone is lying to me! They’re trying to keep me from learning what they know. Everyone is lying to me, because they're trying to keep me from learning what they know. 29) Stop dancing like that. Sit back down in your chair. Stop dancing like that, and sit back down in your chair. 30) Thomas’ friends seemed so strange. They were hanging up every time they called. Thomas' friends seemed so strange, as they were hanging up every time they called.

You must include all of the information which is given, but you may change the form of any word or the arrangement of the sentences. You should delete redundant words or phrases, and you may add prepositions and conjunctions.
 * Exercise #3 **Make a single sentence from each of the groups of sentences below.

"Example": l. The students were diligent. 2. The students followed their professor's instructions. 3. The students wrote in their journals. 4. The students wrote every day.

"Single sentence": Diligently following their professor's instructions, the students wrote in their journals every day.

"Exercises": A. l. We caught two bass. 2. We hauled them in briskly. 3. We hauled them in as though they were mackerel. 4. We pulled them over the side of the boat. 5. We did not use a landing net. 6. Our manner was businesslike. 7. We stunned them with a blow on the back of the head.
 * We caught two bass and hauled them in quickly as though they were mackerel, pulled them over the side of the boat without using a landing net, and businesslikely stunned them with a blow on the back of the head. **

-- E.B. White B. l. The doctor's eye roved across the landscape. 2. His eye detected a figure. 3. His eye was quick. 4. The figure was in black. 5. The figure passed through the gate. 6. The gate led to the field. 7. The gate led down toward the pond. **The doctor's eye roved across the landscape and detected a figure dressed in black passing through the gate, which lead to the field and down toward the pond.** --D.H. Lawrence

C. l. Mrs. Lang saw herself as a counselor. 2. Mrs. Lang saw herself as wise and helpful. 3. She appeared on her neighbor's doorstep. 4. She appeared at the first hint of trouble. 5. She was armed with a treasure-trove of cliches. 6. She was armed with a repertory of sad looks. 7. She was armed with a jar of fig preserves. D. l. Two men dozed. 2. The two men were young. 3. The two men were in the class. 4. They succumbed to fatigue. 5. They succumbed to boredom. 6. They succumbed to the stuffiness of the classroom. 7. The classroom was crowded. 8. They barely heard the voice of the instructor. 9. The instructor detailed with enthusiasm. 10. The instructor detailed the horrors of the Black Death. **The two young men succumbed to fatigue, boredom and stuffiness and dozed in the crowded class, barely hearing the instructor who was enthusiastically detailing the horrors of the Black Death.**
 * Mrs. Lang was a wise and helpful counselor who appeared at her neighbors doorstep at the first sign of trouble, armed with a treasure-trove of cliches, a repertory of sad looks, and a jar of fig preserves. **

E. l. There is a spider. 2. The spider is bulbous at the abdomen. 3. The spider is drab in color. 4. The spider is in the bathroom. 5. The spider has a web. 6. The web is six inches in diameter. 7. The web is in the corner. 8. The corner is behind the toilet. 9. The web is torn. 10. An earwig is trapped in the web. 11. Corpses are on the floor beneath the web. 12. The corpses are the spider's kill. 13. Most of the corpses are sow bugs. 14. Three of the corpses are spiders. 15. Two of the corpses are moths. 16. The moths' corpses are wingless. **The drab spider has a bulbous abdomen and a torn six inch web in the bathroom in the corner behind the toilet; there is an earwig trapped in the web, and underneath it are the corpses of the spider's kill; most of them are sow bugs, three are spiders and two are wingless moths.**

-- Annie Dillard