When writing, you can combine short, choppy sentences into new, longer sentences.

​

Combine two sentences to create a sentence that is clearer and more interesting.

Compound Subjects & Compound Predicates

Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions

Relative Pronouns

1.

2.

3.

4.

Rich takes the bus to school.

You can combine two sentences that share the same predicate by using a compound subject.

José takes the bus to school.

Rich and José take the bus to school.

Pam went to the gym.

You can also combine two sentences that share the same subject by using a compound predicate.

She lifted weights.

Pam went to the gym and lifted weights.

Billy is sick with the flu.

Luis also has the flu.

Billy and Luis are sick with the flu.

Compound Subject

Combine the two sentences:

Travis sat down at the table

Travis ate pasta for dinner.

Travis sat down at the table and ate pasta for dinner.

Compound Predicate

Combine the two sentences:

Compound Subjects & Compound Predicates

Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions

Relative Pronouns

1.

2.

3.

4.

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Coordinating conjunctions are words that join two sentences to make a compound sentence.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

(FANBOYS)

Combine the two sentences using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so):

Jeff was thirsty.

He took a sip from the faucet.

Jeff was thirsty, so he took a sip from the faucet.

Combine the two sentences using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so):

I am having so much fun.

The party is over.

I am having so much fun, but the party is over.

Combine the two sentences using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so):

Mom washed the dishes.

Connor dried them.

Mom washed the dishes, and Connor dried them.

Combine the two sentences using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so):

You can eat leftovers.

I can make you a sandwich.

You can eat leftovers, or I can make you a sandwich.

Compound Subjects & Compound Predicates

Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions

Relative Pronouns

1.

2.

3.

4.

Subordinating conjunctions are words that join two sentences to make a complex sentence.

There are several subordinating conjunctions:

after

although

as

because

before

if

once

since

that

though

unless

until

when

whenever

while

​

Combine the two sentences using the subordinating conjunction after:

He stopped delivering my mail.

My dog bit the mail carrier.

After my dog bit the mail carrier, he stopped delivering my mail.

Combine the two sentences using the subordinating conjunction since:

It is going to rain tomorrow.

The carnival was canceled.

The carnival was canceled since it is going to rain tomorrow.

Combine the two sentences using the subordinating conjunction once:

We must get to work.

The class starts.

Once the class starts, we must get to work.

Combine the two sentences using the subordinating conjunction that:

Her dog wouldn’t even eat it.

Jenny’s cooking was so bad.

Jenny’s cooking was so bad that her dog wouldn’t even eat it.

Compound Subjects & Compound Predicates

Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions

Relative Pronouns

1.

2.

3.

4.

who, whom, whose, that, which

A relative pronoun links two clauses together by giving more information about a word or phrase in a sentence.

There are five relative pronouns:

Combine the two sentences using the relative pronoun who:

She is eighty years old.

My grandma runs five miles a day.

My grandma, who is eighty years old, runs five miles a day.

Combine the two sentences using the relative pronoun whom:

Frank got an A on his math test.

I tutored Frank.

Frank, whom I tutored, got an A on his math test.

Combine the two sentences using the relative pronoun whose:

Jason walked to school.

Jason’s bike is broken.

Jason, whose bike is broken, walked to school.

Combine the two sentences using the relative pronoun that:

Everyone is reading it.

This is J.K. Rowling’s new book.

This is J.K. Rowling’s new book that everyone is reading.

Combine the two sentences using the relative pronoun which:

The hurricane was a category five.

The hurricane devastated the city.

The hurricane, which was a category five, devastated the city.