Sentence Combining English 67 Professor Jean Garrett Sentence Combining Compound Sentences 1
Coordinating Conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions join two or more complete sentences into one, longer compound sentence. They join two complete thoughts, and they must be used with a comma. Look at the previous sentence. See how a comma comes before the conjunction? That's how they are used. Remember the coordinating conjunctions with the expression: fanboys. Coordinating Conjunctions, for = a reason, and = equal idea or time order, nor = negative choice or alternative, but = contrast, or = choice, yet = contrast, so = a result 2
Combining Sentences: Using Coordinating Conjunctions to Create Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses with no dependent clauses. (Remember, an independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that also expresses a complete thought.) Example: John hit the ball. He ran to first base. Combining Sentences: Using Coordinating Conjunctions to Create Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses with no dependent clauses. Method 1: Two independent clauses can be joined together with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to create a compound sentence. Example: John hit the ball, and he ran to first base. 3
Adverbial Conjunctions (Conjunctive Adverbs) Adverbial conjunctions join two or more complete sentences into one, longer sentence. They join two complete thoughts; however, they must be used with a semicolon and a comma. Look at the previous sentence. See how a comma semicolon comes before the adverbial conjunction and the comma comes after it? That's how they are used. Remember the adverbial conjunctions with the expression: hotshotcat. Adverbial Conjunctions (Conjunctive Adverbs) ; however, = contrast ; otherwise, = conditional ; therefore, = reason or result ; similarly, = to compare ; hence, = for a reason ; on the other hand, = contrast ; then = addition or reason ; consequently, = reason or result ; also, = in addition ; thus = reason or result 4
Combining Sentences: Using Adverbial Conjunctions to Create Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses with no dependent clauses. Method 2: Two independent clauses can be joined together with a semicolon, a comma and an adverbial conjunction (HOTSHOTCAT) to create a compound sentence. Example: John hit the ball; therefore, he ran to first base. Combining Sentences: Using a Semicolon to Create Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses with no dependent clauses. Method 3: Two independent clauses can be joined together with a semicolon to create a compound sentence. Example: John hit the ball; he ran to first base. 5
Sentence Combining Complex Sentences Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions join together two independent thoughts but show a relationship between them by making one of the independent thoughts subordinate. When complex sentences are created, they make one thought dependent on another independent thought. Look at the previous sentence. See how a comma comes after the subordinating clause? That's how they are used. Remember the subordinating conjunctions with the expression: batwashtub. 6
Subordinating Conjunctions Because = as a result After = time order Though = contrast When/while = time order Although = contrast Since = as a result How = relative pronoun That = relative pronoun Until = time order Before = time order Combining Sentences: Using Subordinating Conjunctions to Create Complex Sentences Subordinating conjunctions can be used in four ways to create complex sentences. beginning with a subordinating clause ending with a subordinating clause using an essential relative clause using a nonessential relative clause 7
Combining Sentences: Using Subordinating Conjunctions to Create Complex Sentences A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses which combine ideas of unequal value. Method 1: Subordinating dependent clauses can be used to begin complex sentences. { dependent clause } Example: After John hit the ball, he ran to first base. (Notice that a comma follows the dependent clause.) Combining Sentences: Using Subordinating Conjunctions to Create Complex Sentences A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses which combine ideas of unequal value. Method 2: Subordinating dependent clauses can be used to end complex sentences. Example: John ran to first base after he hit the ball. { dependent clause } (No comma is necessary.) 8
Combining Sentences: Using Relative Clauses to Create Complex Sentences A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses which combine ideas of unequal value. Method 3: A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun such as who, that or which. An essential relative clause can be used to create complex sentences. { dependent clause } John was the player who hit the ball and ran to first base. verb (Note: If the relative clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, no commas are needed.) Combining Sentences: Using Relative Clauses to Create Complex Sentences A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses which combine ideas of unequal value. Method 4: A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun such as who, that or which. An nonessential relative clause can be used to create complex sentences. subj. { dependent clause }. verb Example: John, who hit the ball, ran to first base. (Note: If the relative clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, it is set off with commas.) 9
Sentence Combining Compound-Complex Sentences Combining Sentences: Using Coordinating, Subordinating & Adverbial Conjunctions to Create Compound-Complex Sentences A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Method 1: A compound-complex sentence usually begins with a dependent clause followed by two independent clauses. { dependent clause } Example: After John hit the ball, he ran to first base, and he finally stopped at second base. subj. Verb (Note: A comma is place after the dependent clause and before the coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses.) 10
Combining Sentences: Using Coordinating, Subordinating & Adverbial Conjunctions to Create Compound-Complex Sentences A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Method 2: A compound-complex sentence can begin with two independent clauses followed with a dependent clause. Example: John hit the ball, and he ran to first base { dependent clause } before he finally stopped at second base. (Note: A comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses.) Combining Sentences: Using Coordinating, Subordinating & Adverbial Conjunctions to Create Compound-Complex Sentences A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Method 3: A compound-complex sentence can consist of two independent clauses and a relative dependent clause. {independent clause} Example: John, who hit the ball, ran to first base, but subj. {relative clause } verb he finally stopped at second base. (Note: Commas set off the relative clause because it is nonessential, and comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses.) 11