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, and 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 and Grizzly bears are fierce, territorial animals.

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 during the day, so they will let him drive before 9pm.

7) My cat was hungry. It had not eaten since breakfast.

My cat had not eaten since breakfast, so it was hungry.

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.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">9) A book can be a lot of fun to read. A book can be boring.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">A book can be a lot of fun to read, or a book can be boring.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">10) That movie looks great! I would love to come see it with you.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I would love to come see the movie with you, for that movie looks great!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Combine the following sentences with a subordinating conjunction (after all, although, because, before, however, therefore). This may require a semicolon!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 31px;">Sentence Combining Using Subordinating Conjunctions **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">11) They made plans to go. They ended up not being able to make it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Although they made plans to go, they ended up not being able to make it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">12) Some say that dogs are friendlier than cats. Cats can also be extremely loving.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Some say that dogs are friendlier than cats; however, cats can also be extremely loving.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">13) What we’ve accomplished is a milestone. Let’s raise our glasses for a toast.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Let's raise our glasses for a toast; after all, what we've accomplished is a milestone.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">14) Dr. Johnson ate a big meal. He went to work afterward.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Before Dr. Johnson went to work, he ate a big meal.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">15) I simply cannot get out of bed. I am too tired.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I simply cannot get out of bed because I am too tired.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">16) Don’t give me a hard time. We’ve been close friends for so long.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Don't give me a hard time; after all, we have been close friends for a long time.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">17) We don’t believe the way you do. Our culture is very different from yours.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">We don't believe the way you do; therefore our culture is very different from yours.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">18) I can’t believe that you would do something so crazy. If I were you I might do the same.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I can't believe that you would do something so crazy; however, if I were you I might do the same.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">19) The two weren’t always this close. When she died, they became closer.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The two weren't always this close before she died.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">20) I refused to talk about it. I was put in jail.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I refused to talk about it before I was put in jail.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The following sentences share either the same subject or the same verb. Combine the sentences however you can.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 31px;">Sentence Combining with Subjects and Verbs **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">21) Mr. Brown walked to the store. His pet monkey Ralph walked along with him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Mr. Brown walked to the store with his pet monkey Ralph beside him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">22) The cactus is thirsty. The cactus is not getting enough sunlight.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The cactus is thirsty and in need of sunlight.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">23) My mug was in the cupboard. My mug is no longer in the cupboard.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">My mug was in the cupboard, but now my mug is no longer in the cupboard.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">24) Drew’s dog jumped into the air. Janine’s dog jumped into the air as well.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Both Drew's and Janine's dogs jumped into the air.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">25) The book fell to the floor. It opened to a page I had never read before.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">When the book fell to the floor, it opened to a page I had never read before

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">26) Your face has scars on it. Your face looks friendly.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Your face looks friendly, although it has scars on it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">27) Why did you say that word? It was extremely rude.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">That was an extremely rude word, why did you say it?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">28) Everyone is lying to me! They’re trying to keep me from learning what they know.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Everyone is lying to me because they're trying to keep me from learning what they know.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">29) Stop dancing like that. Sit back down in your chair.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Sit back down in your chair and stop dancing like that.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">30) Thomas’ friends seemed so strange. They were hanging up every time they called.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Thomas' friends seemed so strange, also they were hanging up every time they called.

Sentence Combining in Paragraphs
Combine as many sentences as you can in the following paragraph, using the above examples to guide you. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Boston Red Sox were three games down. The Red Sox had to win the next four games to advance. Fans were worried. Boston had not won a World Series since 1918. No team had ever come back in the playoffs from a three-game deficit. All of the fans knew this. Red Sox fans watched anxiously as the fourth game of the ALCS began. Yankees fans watched confidently. They also knew that anything could happen. People wanted to watch a good series. They did not expect it to be such a nail-biter! David Roberts stole second base. This move would be remembered as the turning point of the series. Nobody believed the Red Sox would win that year. The Red Sox won that year. The Yankees would not win the World Series for another five years. In 2009, the Yankees won the World Series.