Sentence Combining 2.

Types of Sentences

The four types of sentence are discussed below:

1. A Simple Sentence

A simple sentence is one with only one independent clause and no dependent clauses.
Example: David drives carefully to work in the morning.

2. Compound Sentence

A compound sentence is one with two independent clauses joined by a coordinating

conjunction (for, but, and, nor, or, yet, so).
Example: I was born in the United States, yet I consider myself Canadian.

3. Complex Sentence

As we have mentioned, a complex sentence is one with an independent clause and at least one
dependent clause.
Example: Whenever he was lonely, Lance called his mother.

4. A Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence is one with at least two independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause.
 Jim doesn’t drink beer because he has a gluten allergy, so he tends to drink wine most
weekends.

Compound Sentences

Compound sentences combine two clauses into one sentence. (Clauses are each a potential
sentence with a subject and predicate.)  Complex sentences do that too. However, compound
sentences use a conjunction (or sometimes a semicolon) to join two or more equal,
independent clauses.

 The conjunction ‘and’ combines two similar thoughts.

 ‘But’ (and 'yet') show a contrast between the thoughts.
 ‘Or’ indicates that only one of the two is correct.
 'Nor' is used like 'or' when neither thought is true.
 ‘So’ shows that the second thought follows from the first. 
 'For' can sometimes be used to mean 'because.'
 It’s also possible to combine two independent clauses without a conjunction. In that case you
would use a semicolon instead of a comma to separate them. (That's what I did in the first sentence
of the example in italics above.) 

You can say: ‘I like ice cream, but he prefers butter.’

You can also say: ‘I like ice cream; he prefers butter.’

Both are correct, although sometimes using a conjunction makes the thought clearer.

Compound Sentence Examples:

 My family went to the park yesterday, and we had a wonderful time.

 Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus before I
arrived. 
 Let's go to the zoo, but we can start with the monkeys!
 Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
 I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station before
noon and left on the bus before I arrived. 
 Larry’s family went to the zoo, but they didn’t enjoy it.
 Your children are older, so they probably wouldn’t be scared.
 Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station.
 Do you want to take them to the zoo, or would it be wiser to go to the park?
 His children were scared of the lions; they left right away.

You can express the connection between ideas using two sentences rather than one compound
sentence. Instead of using ‘and’ between clauses, you could make the second clause a new sentence.
(You might begin it with ‘in addition’ or 'furthermore.')

Contrasting sentences can begin with ‘however’ or ‘nevertheless;’ others with ‘as a result,’
‘consequently,’ ‘as an alternative,’ ‘instead,’ etc. However, these are all more formal than a compound
sentence. (I thought about demonstrating these with the same example of family trips to the zoo, but
we would never use such academic language for a family trip!

I can’t imagine one parent telling another,

“Larry’s family went to the zoo. However, they didn’t enjoy it.”

In conversation English speakers would use ‘but’ every time!

Other Ways to Combine Sentences

Sometimes two sentences can be combined without needing to make a compound sentence. If
both subjects or both verbs are the same, we can make two sentences into one simple sentence (=
only one clause) with a compound subject or a compound verb.
 Examples:

 Jim enjoys skiing. Susie enjoys skiing too.

- Jim and Susie both enjoy skiing.

 Bruce is efficient at work. He is efficient at home too.

- Bruce is efficient at work and at home.

 I like to walk in the park. I also like watching the ducks there.

- I like to walk in the park and watch the ducks there.

Note that in the last example I changed the form of the 2 nd verb (from a present participle to
an infinitive) so they would share the same form. Parallel constructions are easier to understand and
sound better. Teachers and test-givers look for them when reading essays. (They may take off points
when two similar thoughts are expressed in different ways:

 Michael rides his bike every day. He also practices judo and is always watching baseball
games on T.V.

Better:

 Michael rides his bike every day, practices judo and watches baseball games on T.V.

Exercises

I. Combine the sentences to make a compound sentence. Use a conjunction, such as and, but,
or, nor, for, so, yet.

Example: We went to the beach this summer, and we rode on a boat.

1. The phone was ringing. Joseph answered it.

_______________________________________________________________ .
2. We are going outside. We are going to play on the playground.
_______________________________________________________________ .
3. It is time for lunch. I am not hungry.
_______________________________________________________________ .
4. I could have a cookie for snack. I could have an apple for snack.
________________________________________________________________ .
5. I like to grow my hair long. Long hair makes me hot during the summer.
________________________________________________________________ .
6. We cannot run in the hallways. We cannot talk in the hallways.
________________________________________________________________ .
7. I had milk for breakfast. My brother drank juice.
________________________________________________________________ .
8. I wanted a game for my birthday. My sister gave me a new shirt.
________________________________________________________________ .
9. I really like your new shoes. Are they comfortable?
________________________________________________________________ .

10. There is a lost dog outside. We should ask the neighbors if it is theirs.
________________________________________________________________ .
11. She went to work.  She did not want to go.
________________________________________________________________ .

12. My cat was hungry.  It had not eaten since breakfast.

________________________________________________________________ .

13. He loves to drive during the day.  They will let him drive before 9pm.
________________________________________________________________ .

14. I like to swim. John likes to swim.

________________________________________________________________ .

15. Jeane didn’t do the assignment. Alfa didn’t do the assignment.

________________________________________________________________ .

II. Fill in the blanks with the words or, so, but, and, or I don’t know

1. I have both respect __________ admiration for them.

2. It will rain either today __________ tomorrow.

3. He is neither mad __________ upset.

4. I do not know whether he has seen the movie before __________ not.

5. We not only dressed up for the holiday __________ decorated the school.

6. The crowd was both large __________ excited.

7. We should either walk quickly __________ take the bus.

8. I don’t know whether I want to study Spanish __________ Russian.

9. Both my uncle __________ my cousin live in New York.

10. Neither my brother __________ my sister can go to the game.

11. I'm going to go shopping on Sunday _______ buy some new clothes.

12. I've just eaten dinner, ________ I'm not hungry

13. Why don't you ring Sue ________ find out what time she's coming over tonight?

14. Don't tell John about his birthday party ________ you'll spoil the surprise

15. I have been saving my money this year ________next year I plan to take a long

holiday in Europe.

16. Secretary to Boss: Do you want anything else ________ can I go home now?
17. I love to travel ________ I hate travelling by bus

18. I'm bored! Let's go out to dinner _________ see a movie

19. I like living in the city ________my brother prefers living in the country

20. Betty's just got a promotion at work ________ she's very happy

21. Father to Son: You're thirty now. Don't you think it's time that you settled down

_______ got married?

22. Tom got a great Christmas bonus from work this year _________ he and his family

can have a good vacation this year

23. It's late. You should go to bed now _________ you'll be tired tomorrow

24. The taxi stopped at the train station __________two men got out of it.

25. I was in the area __________ I thought I'd drop in and say hello

26. I really hate to have to sell my car _________ I need the money.

27. My friend fell down the stairs _________sprained his ankle

28. I won't be home for Christmas __________I will be there for New Year's.

29. Julia was very angry with Tom __________she went for a long walk to cool down

30. Can you stop at the shop _________ get some milk on your way home from work?

31. Are you busy this weekend __________do you have some free time? I need some help

moving to my new house.

32. You've been working hard in the garden all day. Why don't you sit down _________ I'll

bring you a nice cold drink

33. Nobody was home when I rang Jenny __________ I left a message for her.

34. I've been dieting __________I'm not losing any weight.

35. Will you eat that last chocolate biscuit _________will you leave it for me?

36. It's raining. Wear your raincoat __________you don't get wet.

37. I'm sorry I missed your birthday party Alan, my car broke down _________it took me

hours to walk to a phone

38. Bill graduated first in his class at University __________his parents bought him a new
 car

39. We left very early this morning for our holiday _________there was still a traffic jam

on the freeway.

40. I had a very boring weekend, I just sat around the house __________did nothing.

IV. Directions: try to fill in the blanks using the appropriate conjunction. Use commas if

necessary.

1. My dad _______ I are going fishing this afternoon.

2. The old man doesn’t have much money _____ he always seems to have nice things.

3. Either we are going to win ______ they are going to win.

4. I don’t have much time _____ hurry up!

5. He wasn’t a popular king _____ all of his country men hated him.

6. I want to get there early ____ we should leave soon.

7. It doesn’t matter whether they get the job ___ not.

8. I don’t like red ____ do I like blue.

9. I ran after the cat _____ could not catch her.

10. We played very well ____ we still lost the game.

V. Complete each sentence using the correct coordinating conjunction from the
parenthesis:

1. My car has a radio _________ a CD player. (but, or, and)

2. Sharon hates to listen to rap music, _________ will she tolerate heavy metal. (but, nor, or)
3. Carol wanted to drive to Colorado, _________ Bill insisted that they fly. (and, or, but)
4. I’m afraid of heights, _________ I appreciate the view from the top of this building. (and, yet,
nor)
5. I have to be on time, _________ my boss will be annoyed if I’m late. (and, nor, for)
6. Do you like chocolate _________ vanilla ice cream better? (or, nor, and)
7. I have to go to work at six, _________ I’m waking up at four. (but, so, yet)
8. I was on time, _________ everyone else was late. (so, but, for)
9. Nadia doesn’t like to drive, _________ she takes the bus everywhere. (but, yet, so)
10. Our trip to the museum was interesting, _________ there were several new artifacts on
display. (but, for, yet)

Note:
 Read the explanation dealing with coordinating conjunctions and pay attention to the
examples before you start doing the exercises.
 Do the exercises and send it back to: aloysiusrettob@yahoo.com
 It is also good for you to look for more explanations about coordinating conjunction in
Google.