Sentence Combining/Separation is a subcategory of Sentence, Clause, Phrase Manipulation in which respondents are asked to combine independent sentences or to restate combined sentences as independent sentences (e.g., combining independent sentences using coordinating conjunctions).
ACTIVITIES:
1. Restate these combined sentences as two independent sentences. There may be more than one way to state the ideas, so compare your answers with those of other students in the class.
EXAMPLES: Both Biff and Gladstone are trying to improve their appearance.
Biff is trying to improve his appearance. Gladstone is trying to improve his appearance also.
1. Although John is a little homesick, he still plans to stay in France for at least a year.
2. I wrote to an old friend who went to school with me last night after dinner.
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
2. On a sheet of paper, write sentences that combine the following sets of sentences. Use one of the subordinating words that show reason. Before you can combine the sentences, you must decide which sentence causes the action in the other sentence.
1. Yoko was absent from class yesterday. She missed the lesson on adverb clauses.
2. Kazeem has to get up at 6 a.m. He has an 8 a.m. class.
3. The five-page project is due tomorrow. Mansoo cannot watch television tonight.
4. Mona is taking English classes at night. Morning English classes were not available.
Byrd, P. and Benson, B. (1992). Applied English Grammar.
3. Combine these sentences using not only, but also, both/and, neither/nor or either/or.
EXAMPLE: Canada is in the Northern Hemisphere. The United States is in the Northern Hemisphere.
Both Canada and the United States are in the Northern Heinisphere.
1. Winters in Northern Canada can be very cold. Winters in Northern Canada can be a lot longer than in the Southern United States.
2. Canada might host the Winter Olympics. America might host the Winter Olympics.
3. Canada harvests a lot of wheat. Canada produces a lot of lumber.
4. The United States has a larger population than Canada. The United States has a larger economic output than Canada.
5. Many Canadians speak English as their first language. Many Canadians speak French as their first language.
6. The United States doesn't use Spanish as an official language. Canada doesn't use Spanish as an official language.
7. Canada was originally settled as a British colony. The United States was originally settled as a British colony.
8. In another 50 years, the largest Spanish-speaking city in North America might be Mexico City. In another 50 years, the largest Spanish-speaking city in North America might be Los Angeles.
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
4. Express the conditions and results listed here as conditional sentences about a typical daily routine.
EXAMPLE: Condition: It is a regular workday.
Result: I always follow the same routine.
If it's a regular workday, I always follow the same routine.
| Condition | Result |
| There is milk. | I have cold cereal for breakfast. |
| I have forgotten to buy milk | I usually have toast. |
| I have an early meeting. | I leave at 6:00. |
| It's a normal day. | I leave at 7:00. |
| I drive to work. | It usually takes about 45 minutes. |
| I take the bus. | It usually takes an hour and a half. |
| There is a traffic jam on the freeway. | It can take an hour or even an hour and a half. |
| Traffic continues to get worse. | I don't know what I'll do. |
| Current trends continue. | It will soon take four hours a day to get to and from work. |
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
5. Combine these sentences in two different ways. Use after in the first sentence. Use before in the second sentence.
EXAMPLE: Lee counts the money. Lee puts the money in the cash register.
a. After Lee counts the money, he puts it in the cash register.
b. Lee counts the money before he puts it in the cash register.
1. Lee turns off the alarm. Lee unlocks the door.
a. ___________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
2. Lee unlocks the door. Lee enters the store.
a. ___________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
3. Lee turns on the radio. Lee makes a pot of coffee.
a. ___________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
4. Lee makes coffee. His employees arrive.
a. ___________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
5. Lee puts the money in the cash register. He puts the Open sign on the door.
a. ___________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
Foley, B., Pires, D., and Neblett, E. (1991). Grammar in Action, Book Three.
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