Combine, Expand, Reduce Sentences

Taylor and Tamara had a test the next day. They stayed up all night talking.

• Taylor and Tamara had a test the next day, so they stayed up all night talking.

• Taylor and Tamara had a test the next day, and they stayed up all night talking.

• Even though Taylor and Tamara had a test the next day, they stayed up all night talking.

• Taylor and Tamara had a test the next day because they stayed up all night talking.

Read the first and second sentences. Choose whether the second sentence expands, combines, or reduces the first sentence.

a. The father of my friend whom I knew from school spoke to me first.

b. My school friend's father spoke to me first.

• expands

• combines

• reduces

Which best combines the following sentences. Do you like cookies? Do you prefer cake? Another choice for you is ice cream.

• Would you prefer cookies, cake, and ice cream?

• Would you prefer cookies, cake, or ice cream?

• Would you prefer cookies, cake, nor ice cream?

• Would you prefer cookies, or is your preference cake instead of ice cream?

What is the purpose of expanding a sentence?

• to make it seem better because it is longer

• to make it longer

• to give more information

Read the first and second sentences. Choose whether the second sentence expands, combines, or reduces the first sentence.

a. I liked how the leaves of the tree that were wet shone in the sun.

b. I liked how the tree's wet leaves shone in the sun

• expands

• combines

• reduces

Which is the best way to expand this sentence? The dog barked.

• The small dog barked.

• The small dog barked aggressively at the mail man.

• The small dog barked loudly.

Read the first and second sentences. Choose whether the second sentence expands, combines, or reduces the first sentence.

a. It was a hot day. It was a foggy day, too.

b. It was a hot day, and it was foggy too.

• expands

• combines

• reduces

The girls played. This sentence was expanded to read: The girls played soccer with their friends at the park yesterday. Why was it expanded?

• to tell where the girls played

• to tell when the girls played

• to make the sentence longer

• to include what, where, when, and who details

The following sentence has repetitive details. What is the best way to reduce the sentence? My sister is tired and sleepy, so she is going to rest and take a nap.

• My sister is tired, so she is going to take a nap.

• My sister is sleepy, so she is going to take a nap and rest.

• My sister is tired and sleepy, so she is going to take a nap.

• The sentence does not need any changes.

Read the first and second sentences. Choose whether the second sentence expands, combines, or reduces the first sentence.

a. My grandmother is making snacks.

b. My grandmother is sitting over there making snacks for the rest of the family.

• expands

• combines

• reduces