Sentence Combining - 5th Grade Grammar
Sentence Combining
Sentence combining is reducing two or more simple sentences into one sentence.
Two simple sentences about the same subject can be combined into one compound sentence. They can also be combined with a compound predicate.
Coordinating conjunctions join two words or word groups of the same grammatical rank or importance (e.g., two nouns, two independent clauses). The coordinating conjunctions and, but, and or can be used to create a compound sentence.
The correlative conjunctions either/or and neither/nor can be used to combine sentences.
Subordinating conjunctions tell where, when, why, or how. Some common subordinating conjunctions are after, although, as, because, before, if, since, so that, until, when, and while.
Compound Sentences
A simple sentence has only one complete thought. A compound sentence has two or more complete thoughts about different subjects.
The coordinating conjunctions and, but, and or can be used to connect the complete thoughts in a compound sentence.
The correlative conjunctions either/or and neither/nor can also be used in a compound sentence.
The correlative conjunctions either/or and neither/nor can also be used in a compound sentence.
My mother exercises every day. (simple sentence)
My mother runs every day, but my father rides his bike. (compound sentence)
Either we stay here, or we head home. (compound sentence)
Nina kicked the ball. Nina scored. The crowd cheered. (simple sentences)
Nina kicked the ball and scored, and the crowd cheered.(compound sentence)
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains two related clauses joined by a conjunction other than and, but, or or.
We built our fort where we could see the river.
We built our fort where we could see the river.
Subordinating conjunctions can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a complex sentence. If the sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction, a comma should follow the last word of the dependent clause.
When spring is near, I hang a new bird feeder in the tree.
I hang a new bird feeder in the tree when spring is near.
How to Punctuate Compound and Complex Sentences?
Use a comma before a conjunction to separate two independent clauses in compound sentences.
It’s supposed to rain today, but I don’t see any clouds in the sky.
In complex sentences that begin with dependent clauses, add a comma after the last word of the dependent clause.
After the soccer game ended, we heard thunder.