Combining Sentences
4.2.spi.9

WP

Select the best way to combine sentences to provide syntactic variety within context.

 

The Dragonslayers
Rules

In this lesson you will learn how to correct choppy sentences that have words that are repeated in two or more sentences. You can determine this by asking, "Do neigbhoring sentences contain the same subject and/or the same verb?"

Rule 1:  Different Subjects - Same Predicate
When two people or things do the same thing, try to tell about it in one sentence.

Tymbal knelt down beside Brian. Florissa knelt down beside Brian.
 Tymbal and Florissa knelt down beside Brian.

If you use I as part of a combined subject, put I last.

I will wake him. Vessan will wake him.
Vessan and I will wake him.

Rule 2:  Different Predicates - Same Subject
If you have one person doing more than one thing, then place the verbs in a string.

Brian raised his sword. Brian turned in a slow circle, looking for the enemy.
Brian raised his sword and turned in a slow circle, looking for the enemy.

Rule 3:  Avoid writing sentences that repeat the same words again and again.

Brian would like to find the dragon. Brian would like to slay the dragon.
Brian would like to find and slay the dragon.

Remember if more than two things are named then you must use commas.

Brian stood beside a fallen tree, looking around in confusion.
Elizar stood beside a fallen tree, looking around in confusion.
The fox stood beside a fallen tree, looking around in confusion.

Brian, Elizar, and the fox stood beside a fallen tree, looking around in confusion.
Sentence Writing
Correctly combine the following sentences.
  1. Brian suddenly stopped. Brian looked around.

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  2. Tymbal began to sing. Florissa began to sing too.

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  3. Brian was part of the earth. Brian was part of everything.

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  4. Tymbal bent above Brian. Florissa bent above Brian. Vessan bent above Brian.

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  5. Feel the forest. Feel its roots.

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Multiple Choice
  1. Choose the sentence that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.

    The spirits of the forest came to seek Brian's help.
    The spirits of the forest came to offer Brian help.

    1. The spirits of the forest came to seek Brian's help, and the spirits of the forest came to offer Brian help.
    2. The spirits of the forest came to seek Brian's help and to offer him help.
    3. The spirits of the forest came to and the spirits of the forest offered Brian help.
    4. The spirits of the forest came to seek Brian's help, and they came to offer Brian the help of the spirits of the forest.
       
  2. Which of the following is written correctly?
    1. The dragon is death, wounds, and fear.
    2. The dragon is death and wounds and fear.
    3. The dragon is death, and it is wounds, and it is fear.
    4. The dragon is death, wounds, and it is fear.
       
  3. How can the error in the following sentence be fixed?

    The forest is life. The forest heals. The forest gives courage.

    1. The healing forest is life and it gives the forest courage.
    2. The forest is life and it heals and it gives courage.
    3. The forest is life and heals and it gives courage.
    4. The forest is life, heals, and gives courage.
       
  4. Choose the answer that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.

    Taking up his sword, he stood.
    He began to move in the direction of the dragon.

    1. Taking up he stood and he began his sword to move in the direction of the dragon.
    2. Taking and moving his sword in the direction of the dragon.
    3. Taking up his sword, he stood and began to move in the direction of the dragon.
    4. The direction of the dragon his sword began to move.
       
  5. Choose the sentence which is worded the best.
    1. He moved past another tree. He stopped in horror.
    2. He moved past another tree and he stopped in horror.
    3. He moved past in horror and stopped another tree.
    4. He moved past another tree and stopped in horror.
       
  6. Which of the following is written correctly?
    1. An upsetting fear had set in and it was terrifying.
    2. An upsetting, terrifying fear had set in.
    3. An upsetting fear and a terrifying fear had set in.
    4. A fear that was terrifying, and it was upsetting had set in.
       
  7. Choose the answer that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.

    Tymbal was upset because of the dragon.
    Florissa was upset because of the dragon.
    Vessan was upset because of the dragon.

    1. Tymbal, Florissa, and Vessan was upset because of the dragon.
    2. Tymbal, and Florissa, and Vessan were upset because of the dragon.
    3. Tymbal, Florissa, and Vessan were upset because of the dragon.
    4. Tymbal and Florissa and Vessan were upset because of the dragon.
       
  8. Which of the following is written correctly?
    1. The forest spirits whispered, sang, and warned Brian.
    2. The forest spirits whispered. The forest spirits sang. The forest spirits warned Brian.
    3. The forest spirits whispered and sang, and the forest spirits warned Brian.
    4. The forest spirits whispered, sang, and the forest spirits warned Brian.
 
Write a Paragraph

Use your best sentence sense to turn these short choppy sentences into mature sentences. You may leave out unnecessary words, but do not leave out important concepts. For example, if "The tiny dragon gave a piercing cry.", "The tiny dragon turned around.", and "The tiny dragon raced in the other direction." you probably don't need to repeat "the tiny dragon."

  1. Two witches stood before a cauldron stirring a magical brew.
  2. Grizelda rolled up her sleeves ready to start the conjuring potion.
  3. Phrenella rolled up her sleeves ready to start the conjuring potion.
  4. The shadows from the fire danced around the dark forest.
  5. The shadows from the fire danced around the big forest.
  6. One by one ingredients were added to the cauldron.
  7. Moondust and mildew were added.
  8. Toad tongues and bat wings were added.
  9. Fireflowers and wormwood were added.
  10. Finally the most important ingredient was added: a lizard.
  11. The cauldron exploded, and a tiny dragon appeared.
  12. The tiny dragon gave a piercing cry.
  13. The tiny dragon turned around.
  14. The tiny dragon raced in the other direction.
  15. Soon it disappeared among the trees.

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Answer Key

Sentence Writing

  1. Brian suddenly stopped  and looked around.
  2. Tymbal and Florissa began to sing.
  3. Brian was part of the earth and everything.
  4. Tybal, Florissa, and Vessan bent above Brian.
  5. Feel the forest and its roots.

Multiple Choice

  1. b
  2. a
  3. d
  4. c
  5. d
  6. c
  7. c
  8. a

Write a Paragraph

     Two witches stood before a cauldron stirring a magical brew. Grizelda and Phrenella rolled up their sleeves ready to start the conjuring potion. The shadows from the fire danced around the big, dark forest. One by one moondust, mildew, toad tongues, bat wings, fireflowers, and wormwood  were added to the cauldron. Finally the most important ingredient was added: a lizard. The cauldron exploded, and a tiny dragon appeared. The tiny dragon gave a piercing cry, turned around, raced in the other direction. Soon it disappeared among the trees.