EXERCISE

Combine sentences to make the following paragraphs flow more smoothly. Alter the rhythm of your sentences by using a mixture of simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound sentences. Try to avoid wordiness, repetition, and "stale" diction as well. Feel free to be creative-you can add, clarify, condense, change, or omit ideas!

1. I am tired of rain. My sister likes rain. My sister is three years younger than I am. However, she thinks that she is ten years older. I do not like train because my backpack gets wet. I do not like rain because my clothes get wet. It makes me sneeze. My homework also gets wet. I do not like rain because it makes wet and uncomfortable and stressed out. I guess I could use an umbrella. I don't know where it went, however. It's just one more thing for me to carry. I sometimes just wear a hat and jacket. The jacket is kinda waterproof. I still get wet however. I hope that it will be sunny the rest of the week because I am tired of rain.

2. There are many stereotypes about men and women. Men are not as sensitive as women; they are good at math. They curse more. They listen to loud punk groups. They like cheesecake and big dogs named Tiger or Sic 'Em. Women are supposed to be more emotional. Women are likely to talk too much and cry too often. They prefer chocolate cake to cheesecake. They like those darn cats. Women might knit socks. They are supportive and love babies. Men worry about changing the diapers of babies. Men and women are different. All men and women have qualities of the other gender. Maybe they balance each other.

SENTENCE COMBINING: COORDINATION

I. Coordinating Conjunctions. There are several different ways to join two sentences. One way is to join the sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. (There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.)

Another option is to use a semicolon. These two ways of joining two sentences are both called coordination, and they create what we call compound sentences:

Morley stayed up late, and Clarissa went to bed early to read.

Oscar came out of the water with the others, but Maria kept swimming.

There was no food at all in the house, so we went out to eat.

I will pay you fifty dollars, and I will give you my old stereo.

I will pay you fifty dollars, or I will give you my old stereo.

Notice two things about these sentences: the various conjunctions create a different relationship between the two simple sentences being joined, and in each case, either of the two joined sentences can stand on its own as a complete sentence. Here are more examples of compound sentences using coordinating conjunctions not quite as common as the ones we used above:

My cousin never shows any kind of generosity, yet he expects everyone to be generous to him.

Lisa has been brooding lately, for she knows that at the age of twenty-five she has to take her life into her own hands.

I will not go to school, nor will I work today.

Notice that in all the examples above, there is a comma before the coordinating conjunction that joins the two complete sentences.

II. Conjunctive Adverbs. The semicolon is another device for creating coordination. This is done in two ways: with just the semicolon, or with the semicolon plus a conjunctive adverb like therefore, however, in fact, on the other hand, consequently, nevertheless.

The fall weather conditions we enjoy have arrived; cool nights are followed by clear sunrises and warm afternoons.

Student use of the art gallery is modest; in fact, some students never set foot in it the whole time they attend college.

Student use of the bus system has increased; however, many students never ride the bus.

Student use of the bus system has increased; many students, however, never ride the bus.

Notice that in the last example the connector, however, is placed inside the second clause, but the semicolon stays where it is. The sentence would be fine with the connector placed right after the semicolon (see next to last example). Notice also that however with a semicolon is a more formal way to achieve the same effect as a comma with but. The writer can choose the level of formality.

SENTENCE COMBINING: COORDINATION

EXERCISE

PART I: Fill in the coordinating conjunction that makes most sense.

1. Clarissa wanted to cook veal for dinner, Morley wanted to eat out.

2. We'll clean the downstairs, you can do the upstairs.

3. Our government can focus on strong defense, it can focus on peace.

4. Uncle Harvey always complains about the untidiness of others, he turns every place he goes in to a pig sty.

5. We just had to spend $300 fixing our car, we won't be able to take that trip to San Diego.

PART II: Join the following pairs of sentences with a semicolon and one of the following conjunctive adverbs-in fact, on the other hand, however-plus a comma.

Example: Marie loves cats. She has sixteen. Rewrite: Marie loves cats; in fact, she has sixteen.

1. We try to help as many students as we can. We simply do not have the resources to help people who are not enrolled.

2. Mary has been a great help to me. She just proofread an essay for me this morning.

3. The college is proud of its transfer curriculum. It offers many useful vocational programs to students who don't plan to transfer.

SENTENCE COMBINING: SUBORDINATION

You have practiced combining sentences through coordination. Here we will look at subordination, which creates a different relationship between the two simple sentences (clauses) being combined.

In fact, the one that the subordinating conjunction (if, since, although, because, when, as soon as, before, after, unless, where etc.) is attached to is no longer a sentence by itself but must be joined to a main clause, which is a sentence by itself. That's why subordinate clauses are also called dependent clauses, and main clauses independent clauses.

Two simple sentences: You don't want to go to the game. Let me know right away.

Combined: If you don't want to go to the game, let me know right away.

This combined sentence is called a complex sentence, and it uses subordination as the connecting relationship. The first clause is subordinated to the second or main clause, or, to put it another way, it depends on the main clause for clarity.

Notice that the order of the clauses can be reversed without losing the meaning of the sentence:

Let me know right away if you don't want to go to the game.

If you don't want to go to the game, let me know right away.

Here is a partial list of subordinating conjunctions: after as soon as how where unless although as though if than until as because provided that that when as if before since though while.

In the following examples, notice the different relationships created by the various subordinating conjunctions: Also, notice that commas are only used to divide clauses when the subordinate clause comes first.

Morley invited Clarissa to the club dance although he was broke.

Although Morley was broke, he invited Clarissa to the club dance.

Our program has to be cut since the government reduced our funding.

Since the government reduced our funding, our program has to be cut.

Charley goes into deep depression whenever the 49ers lose.

Whenever the 49ers lose, Charley goes into deep depression.

Ever since Laura spent that year in Spain, she's been a coffee drinker.

Laura's been a coffee drinker ever since she spent that year in Spain.

SENTENCE COMBINING: SUBORDINATION

No matter what the relationship between the two clauses may be-time, place, cause, contradiction, or consequence-in every case the dependent or subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

We can't just say:

When I finish mowing the lawn. What happens when I finish mowing the lawn?

If we don't leave now. What happens if we don't leave right now?

These fragments clearly leave us hanging; they need a main clause to be complete. This is why subordination is different from coordination where both clauses can stand on their own as sentences.

When I finish mowing the lawn, I will watch a movie.

I will watch a movie when I finish mowing the lawn.

If we don't leave now, we will miss the bus.

We will miss the bus if we don't leave now.

EXERCISE

PART I: Combine the following pairs of sentences by inserting an appropriate subordinating conjunction in front of either clause and adjusting the punctuation as necessary. Choose a conjunction that makes good sense.

1. I can't go to the Steel Pulse concert. I have to work.

2. Morley chewed each piece of meat many times. Clarissa covered her eyes.

3. Anne had never ridden a motorcycle. Her husband gave her one last week.

4. It starts to rain a lot. Pedro gets very moody.

5. I spent two years in Hawaii. The weather is warm and life moves slowly.

6. I'll come over to your house tonight. I get off work.

SENTENCE COMBINING: SUBORDINATION

PART II: Write two compound-complex sentences using two different combinations of coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so ) and subordinating conjunction ( if, since, when, because, although, after, as, etc.). For example, and if, but when, so before, etc. Example: I usually enjoy going to a movie, but when the person sitting behind me kicks my chair for two hours, I don't have much fun.

1.

2.

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