Enhancing Writing with Sentence Combination Techniques
Explore the art of combining sentences to add variety and engage readers effectively. Learn about coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions, as well as conjunctive adverbs. Discover how combining sentences can prevent monotony, captivate your audience, and elevate the overall quality of your writing. Dive into interactive quizzes, insightful visuals, and expert quotes to master this essential skill.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Combining Sentences Adding Variety to your Writing
To prepare you, take these online quizzes: Coordinating Conjunctions http://www.proprofs.com/quiz- school/story.php?title=coordinating-conjunctions-quiz Subordinating Conjunctions http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/english- subordinating-conjunctions2.html Correlative Conjunctions http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/correlative_ conjunctions/quiz3199.html Conjunctive Adverbs http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/ell-conjunctive- adverbs-test2.html
Why combine? To avoid monotony Insert text or image to convey key point for each idea. Consider animating in each concept as you move through the ideas.
Why combine? To avoid monotony Insert text or image to convey key point for each idea. Consider animating in each concept as you move through the ideas. To NOT bore your audience
Why combine? To avoid monotony Insert text or image to convey key point for each idea. Consider animating in each concept as you move through the ideas. To NOT bore your audience To employ the music of language
How do these sound? The sun came down. The stores closed. The kids went home. The question confused me. It did not trick me.
Compared to these? When the sun came down, the stores closed and all the kids went home. The question confused me, but it did not trick me.
So, how do we combine? Insert text or image to convey key point.
Lets first look at how writers do it. What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though. - J.D. Salinger
Lets first look at how writers do it. A man who knows himself can live with his imperfections; he knows instinctively that he is part of a wave that started from great, unnavigable expanses. - F. Sionil Jose
Lets first look at how writers do it. If I knew that today would be the last time I d see you, I would hug you tight and pray the Lord be the keeper of your soul. If I knew that this would be the last time you pass through this door, I d embrace you, kiss you, and call you back for one more. If I knew that this would be the last time I would hear your voice, I d take hold of each word to be able to hear it over and over again. If I knew this is the last time I see you, I d tell you I love you, and would not just assume foolishly you know it already. Gabriel Garcia-Marquez
Combining Sentences 3 ways to do it
Coordination Subordination Compression
1. Coordination Compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses These clauses are either separated by a semicolon or connected by a coordinating conjunction.
Spot the coordinators Music is at once the product of feeling and knowledge, for it requires from its disciples, composers and performers alike, not only talent and enthusiasm, but also that knowledge and perception which are the result of protracted study and reflection.
Imagine if we did not combine: Music is at once the product of feeling and knowledge. Music requires from its disciples, composers and performers alike talent and enthusiasm. Music also requires knowledge and perception. These are the result of protracted study and reflection.
Example of a Compound Sentence Connecting word Comma Independent clause Independent clause Missy passed the ball Missy passed , and Marta made the shot. Marta made
Remember the FANBOYS (See Coordinating Conjunctions and their Functions) For And Nor But Or Yet So
Lets play a game called Find your match
1. Coordination She couldn t think of anything better to do. She decided to baby-sit for me. The scientists trained him well. They helped him find a job when his training was through. My cat was hungry. It had not eaten since breakfast.
1. Coordination She couldn t think of anything better to do, so she decided to baby-sit for me. The scientists trained him well, and they helped him find a job when his training was through. My cat was hungry for it had not eaten since breakfast.
1. Coordination She couldn t think of anything better to do; she decided to baby-sit for me. The scientists trained him well; they helped him find a job when his training was through. My cat was hungry; it had not eaten since breakfast.
Compounding sentence elements Within a sentence, ideas can be connected by compounding various sentence elements: subjects, verbs, objects or whole predicates, modifiers, etc.
Example He studied the biological and natural sciences. He learned how to categorize and draw animals accurately. He studied the biological and natural sciences and learned how to categorize and draw animals accurately.
Example The medical university recruited some of their interns from private schools. They also invited interns from public schools. The medical university recruited some of their interns from both private and public schools.
Example President Aquino believed that the way to progress is taking the Tuwid na Daan . He also believed that meant he could count on every Filipino to support him. President Aquino believed that the way to progress is taking the Tuwid na Daan and that he could count on every Filipino to support him.
2. Subordination - establishes a more complex relationship between ideas, showing that one idea depends on another in some way a chronological development a cause-and-effect relationship a conditional relationship, etc.
Example: The team talked about its game plan as the crowd cheered. When you combine sentences this way, you get a complex sentence.
Some of the most common subordinating conjunctions (See (See Table Table for more detailed info) for more detailed info) after although as because before if once since than that though until when where whether while
Examples Although it was very hot, they went running. Since we could not go away on vacation, we decided to take a couple of Literature classes this summer. While her brother went to law school in San Beda, Monica went to law school in UP.
Coordination Subordination Compression
Compression - a device by which longer structures may be reduced to shorter structures - goal is to make writing concise
Compression Example: Original sentence: The boys can t swim in the pool because their father won t allow them. Compressed form: Not allowed by their father, the boys can t swim in the pool.
Try this one: Atty. Garcia allowed his men to make important decisions in a democratic manner. This democratic attitude fostered a spirit of togetherness and commitment on the part of Garcia's colleagues. Allowing his men to make important decisions in a democratic manner, Atty. Garcia fostered a spirit of togetherness and commitment among his colleagues.
In combining, you may also use: Correlative conjunctions Conjunctive adverbs (See Table) therefore however nevertheless consequently moreover otherwise besides furthermore, etc. both / and not only / but also either / or neither / nor whether / or
Lets try the different modes of joining using these two nucleus sentences: UP students are reflective and socially responsible. They can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Coordinating: Compound Sentence UP students are reflective and socially responsible, and they can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Coordinating: Compound Predicate UP students are reflective, socially responsible and can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Absolute Phrase UP students being reflective and socially responsible, they can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Adverbial Clause Because/Since UP students are reflective and socially responsible, they can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Adjective Clause UP students, who are reflective and socially responsible, can respond to the evolving call of the times.
-ing Participial Clause Being reflective and socially responsible, UP students can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Verbless Clause Reflective and socially responsible, UP students can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Appositive UP students, reflective and socially responsible citizens, can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Adjective pre-modifier Reflective and socially responsible UP students can respond to the evolving call of the times.
Exercise: Joining sentences (Guided) Directions: Subordinate, coordinate, and compress structures as suggested to form a single sentence. Position modifiers properly.
Standing on the doorstep, the three old ladies dressed in black looked like twittering crows. a. They stood on the doorstep. b. The three old ladies looked like twittering crows. c. They were dressed all in black. Compress a into an ing participial clause to introduce b which will be the main predication and change c to an ed participial clause to modify the appropriate noun in b.
References: Dadufalza, C.D. (1996). Reading into Writing I: Bookmark Inc. Grammar Made Easy. Retrieved from http://amerenglish- grammar-2.webs.com/conjunctions.htm Nordquist, R. Introduction to sentence combining. Retrieved from http://grammar.about.com/od/tests/a/introsc.htm Sentence Combining Worksheets. (n.d.). Retrieved August 31st, 2015, from http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/worksheets/sentence -combining- Table of subordinating conjunctions. Retrieved from http://www.grammarbank.com/subordinating- conjunctions.html
Short caption or quote
