Name: Huot, Lynet

Class: A1.4

RUPP/IFL/DOE
WRITING SKILLS 101

SENTENCE VARIETY

Compound Sentence

Activity I
Combine the following pairs of simple sentences into compound sentences. Use a comma and a
logical joining word (and, but, for, so) to connect each pair.

Example
We hung up the print. The wall still looked bare.
We hung up the print, but the wall still looked bare.

1. so
• My cold grew worse. I decided to see a doctor.
My cold grew worse, so I decided to see a doctor.

2. but
• My uncle always ignores me. My aunt gives me kisses and presents.
My uncle always ignores me, but my aunt gives me kisses and presents.

3. and
• We played softball in the afternoon. We went to a movie in the evening.
We played softball in the afternoon, and we went to a movie in the evening.

4. but
• 1 invited Rico to sleep overnight. He wanted to go home.
1 invited Rico to sleep overnight, but he wanted to go home.

5. for
• Police raided the club. They had gotten a tip about illegal drugs for sale.
Police raided the club, for they had gotten a tip about illegal drugs for sale.

Complex sentence

Activity 1
Use logical dependent words to combine the following pairs of simple sentences into complex
sentences. Place a comma after a dependent statement when it starts the sentence.

Examples
I obtained a credit card. I began spending money recklessly.

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When I obtained a credit card, I began spending money recklessly.

Alan dressed the turkey. His brother greased the roasting pot.
Alan dressed the turkey while his brother greased the roasting pot.

1. The instructor announced the quiz. The class groaned. (when)

When the instructor announced the quiz, the class groaned.

2. Gene could not fit any more groceries into his cart. He decided to go to the checkout counter.
(because)
Because Gene could not fit any more groceries into his cart, he decided to go to the
checkout counter.

3. Your car is out of commission. You should take it to Otto's Transmission. (if)
If your car is out of commission, you should take it to Otto's Transmission.

4. I finished typing the paper. I proofread it carefully. (after)

After I finished typing the paper, I proofread it carefully.

5. We owned four cats and a dog. No one would rent us an apartment. (because)
Because we owned four cats and a dog, no one would rent us an apartment.

Activity 2
Rewrite the following sentences, using subordination rather than coordination. Include a comma
when a dependent statement starts a sentence.

Example The hair dryer was not working right, so I returned it to the store.
Because the hair dryer was not working right, I returned it to the store.

1. Ruth turned on the large window fan, but the room remained hot. (although/even though)
Although Ruth turned on the large window fan, the room remained hot.

2. The plumber repaired the water heater, so we can take showers again. (because)
Because the plumber repaired the water heater, we can take showers again.

3. I washed the sheets and towels, and I scrubbed the bathroom floor. (before/after)
After I washed the sheets and towels, I scrubbed the bathroom floor.

4. You should go to a doctor, for your chest cold may get worse. (because)
You should go to a doctor because your chest cold may get worse.
Because your chest cold may get worse, you should go to a doctor.

5. The fish tank broke, and guppies were flopping all over the carpet. (because)
Because the fish tank broke, guppies were flopping all over the carpet.

Activity 3
Combine the simple sentences that follow into complex sentences. Omit repeated words. Use the
dependent words who, which, and that.

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Use commas around the dependent statement only if it seems to interrupt the flow of thought in
the sentence.

Examples
Clyde picked up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker was traveling around the world.
Clyde picked up a hitchhiker who was traveling around the world.

Larry is a sleepwalker. Larry is my brother.

Larry, who is my brother, is a sleepwalker.

1. The magazine article was about abortion. The article made me very angry. (which/that)
The magazine article was about abortion which made me very angry.

2. The woodshed has collapsed. I built the woodshed myself. (which/that)

The woodshed, which I built myself, has collapsed.

3. The power drill is missing. I bought the power drill at half price. (which/that)
The power drill, which I bought the power drill at half price, is missing.

4. Rita Haber was indicted for bribery. Rita Haber is our mayor. (who)
Rita Haber, who was indicted for bribery, is our mayor.

5. The chicken pies contained dangerous preservatives. We ate the chicken pies. (which/that)
The chicken pies, which we ate, contained dangerous preservatives.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE
A compound-complex sentence is made up of two (or more) simple sentence and one (or more)
dependent statements. In the following examples, a solid line is under the simple sentences and a
dotted line is under the dependent statements.

When the power line snapped, Jack was listening to the stereo, and Linda was reading in bed.
After I returned to school following a long illness, the math instructor gave me
makeup work, but the history instructor made me drop her course.

Activity 1
Read through each sentence to get a sense of its overall meaning. Then insert a logical joining
word (and, or, but, for, or so) and a logical dependent word (because, since, when, or although).

1. __Because______he suffered so much during hay fever season, Pete bought an air conditioner,
____and___he swallowed allergy pills regularly. (and, because)

2. _When___ I put on my new flannel shirt, I discovered that a button was missing, __so_____ I
angrily went looking for a replacement button in the sewing basket. (when, so)

3. __Although_____ the computer was just. repaired, the Screen keeps Freezing, __so_____ I
have to restart the program. (so, even though/although)

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4. __Because_______I have lived all my life on the East Coast, I felt uncomfortable during a
West Coast vacation, ___and_____ I kept thinking that the ocean was on the wrong side.
(because, and)

5. __Since_____ water condensation continues in your basement, either you should buy a
dehumidifier, ___or_______you should cover the masonry walls with waterproof paint. (or,
since)

REVIEW OF COORDINATION AND SUBORDINATION

Activity

1. (although, so)
• Louise used a dandruff shampoo.
• She still had dandruff.
• She decided to see a dermatologist.
Although Louise used a dandruff shampoo, she still had dandruff, so she decided to see a
dermatologist.

2. (but, because)
• Omar's parents want him to be a doctor.
• Omar wants to be a salesman.
• He impresses people with his charm.
Omar's parents want him to be a doctor, but Omar wants to be a salesman because he
impresses people with his charm.

3. (; when, because)
• The instructor conducted a discussion period.
• Jack sat at his desk with his head down.
• He did not want the instructor to call on him.
• He had not read the assignment.
When the instructor conducted a discussion period, Jack sat at his desk with his head
down; he did not want the instructor to call on him because he had not read the
assignment.

The instructor conducted a discussion period; Jack sat at his desk with his head down
when he did not want the instructor to call on him, because he had not read the
assignment.

4. (but, so)
• Lola wanted to get a quick lunch at the cafeteria.
• All the sandwiches were gone.
• She had to settle for a cup of yogurt.
Lola wanted to get a quick lunch at the cafeteria, but all the sandwiches were gone, so she
had to settle for a cup of yogurt.

5. (so, and, but, when)

• I was leaving to do some shopping in town.
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• I asked my son to water the back lawn.
• He seemed agreeable.
• I returned three hours later.
• The lawn had not been watered.
I was leaving to do some shopping in town, so I asked my son to water the back lawn,
and he seemed agreeable, but I returned three hours later when the lawn had not been
watered.

When I was leaving to do some shopping in town, I asked my son to water the back lawn,
and he seemed agreeable, so I returned three hours later, but the lawn had not been
watered.

6. (so, and, because)

• I had eaten too quickly.
• My stomach became upset.
• It felt like a war combat zone.
• I took two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
I had eaten too quickly, so my stomach became upset, and it felt like a war combat zone
because I took two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

7. (but, and, because)

• Midge is always buying plants and flower seeds.
• She enjoys growing things.
• Not many things grow well for her.
• She doesn't know why.
Midge is always buying plants and flower seeds because she enjoys growing things, but
not many things grow well for her, and she doesn't know why.

8. (when, but)
• My car was struck from behind yesterday.
• I slowed suddenly for a red light.
• The driver 'of the truck behind me slammed on his brakes.
• He didn't quite stop in time.
My car was struck from behind yesterday when I slowed suddenly for a red light, and the
driver 'of the truck behind me slammed on his brakes, but he didn't quite stop in time.

9. (but, because, so, who)

• Ed skimmed through the help-wanted ads.
• Nothing was there for him.
• He desperately needed a job.
• He would have to sell his car.
• He could no longer keep up the payments.

Ed, who skimmed through the help-wanted ads, desperately needed a job, but nothing
was there for him, so he would have to sell his car because he could no longer keep up
the payments.

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10. (and, so, which/but)
•The meat loaf didn't taste right.
• The mashed potatoes had too much salt in them.
• We sent out for a pizza.
• It was delivered late.
• It was cold.
The meat loaf didn't taste right, and the mashed potatoes had too much salt in them, so we
sent out for a pizza which was delivered late and cold.
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