Combining Combining SentencesSentences(with Gemma)(with Gemma)

Suppose you were to write about Mrs. Suppose you were to write about Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, based on the Fallon’s dog, Gemma, based on the following information…following information…

Mrs. Fallon has a dog.Mrs. Fallon has a dog.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog is named Mrs. Fallon’s dog is named Gemma.Gemma.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has one black ear and one spotted one black ear and one spotted ear.ear.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has freckles on her nose. freckles on her nose.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, steals Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, steals paper out of the garbage can.paper out of the garbage can.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, shreds Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, shreds the paper all over the place.the paper all over the place.

Of course, you Of course, you wouldn’t express each wouldn’t express each idea separately in its idea separately in its own sentence like that. own sentence like that. Instead, you would Instead, you would combine the ideas into combine the ideas into longer, more detailed longer, more detailed sentences. sentences.

Sentence combiningSentence combining, which can be , which can be done in a variety of ways, is one done in a variety of ways, is one of the most effective writing of the most effective writing techniques you can practice.techniques you can practice.

Here are some ways to combine Here are some ways to combine sentences…..sentences…..

1. Series1. Series Use a Use a seriesseries to combine three or to combine three or

more similar ideas.more similar ideas.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has has one black ear, one one black ear, one spotted ear, and freckles on spotted ear, and freckles on her nose.her nose.

2. Relative Pronoun2. Relative Pronoun Use a Use a relative pronounrelative pronoun (who, whose, (who, whose,

that, which) to introduce the that, which) to introduce the subordinate (less important) ideas.subordinate (less important) ideas.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Mrs. Fallon’s dog, whose name whose name is Gemma,is Gemma, has one black ear has one black ear and one spotted ear.and one spotted ear.

3. Introductory Phrase or Clause3. Introductory Phrase or Clause

Use an Use an introductory phraseintroductory phrase or or clause clause for the less important ideas. for the less important ideas.

After stealing paper out of the After stealing paper out of the garbage cangarbage can, Mrs. Fallon’s dog, , Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, shreds it all over the Gemma, shreds it all over the place.place.

4. Participial phrase4. Participial phrase

Use a Use a participial phraseparticipial phrase (-ing, -ed) (-ing, -ed) to begin or end a sentence.to begin or end a sentence.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, steals paper out of the garbage steals paper out of the garbage can, can, shreddingshredding it all over the it all over the place.place.

5. Semicolon5. Semicolon

Use a Use a semicolon semicolon to combine two to combine two related sentences. related sentences.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, steals paper out of the garbage steals paper out of the garbage can; shecan; she shreds it all over the shreds it all over the place.place.

6. Repeat a key word6. Repeat a key word

Repeat a Repeat a key wordkey word or phrase to or phrase to emphasize the idea. emphasize the idea.

Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has a Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, has a funny-looking funny-looking nosenose, a white , a white nosenose with black freckles on it.with black freckles on it.

7. 7. Correlative conjunctionsCorrelative conjunctions

Use Use correlative conjunctionscorrelative conjunctions like “ like “not not only, but alsoonly, but also; ; either, oreither, or” to compare or ” to compare or contrast two ideas in a sentence.contrast two ideas in a sentence.

Not onlyNot only does Mrs. Fallon’s dog, does Mrs. Fallon’s dog, Gemma, have one black ear and Gemma, have one black ear and one spotted ear, one spotted ear, but she alsobut she also has has freckles on her nose.freckles on her nose.

8. Appositive8. AppositiveUse an Use an appositiveappositive . . An appositive is a An appositive is a

noun phrase that follows the noun or noun phrase that follows the noun or pronoun it modifies and amplifies or pronoun it modifies and amplifies or restricts its meaning. restricts its meaning.

Mrs. Fallon’s pet, Gemma, Mrs. Fallon’s pet, Gemma, a dog with a dog with black and white ears and freckles on black and white ears and freckles on her noseher nose, wreaks havoc in the house , wreaks havoc in the house when she steals paper out of the when she steals paper out of the garbage can.garbage can.

The end.