Combining, Expanding, and Reducing Sentences

What is the purpose of expanding a sentence?

• to give more details and information

• to make it seem fancy because it's long

• to make it longer

• to make my teacher happy

The following sentence is missing the "who" details. What is the best way to expand it? They were very excited to make homemade pepperoni pizza!

• replace "They" with "The girls"

• replace "They" with "We"

• replace "They" with "Ellen and Sarah"

• replace "They" with "The friends"

The following sentence is missing the "where" details. What is the best way to expand it? We are going there on Sunday.

• replace "there" with "to the park"

• replace "there" with "to Cedar Point Amusement Park"

• replace "there" with "to the amusement park"

• replace "there" with "to a fun amusement park"

Compare the two underlined sentences: The girls played. and The girls played soccer with their friends at the park on Saturday. The 1st sentence was expanded to the 2nd sentence. Why was the 1st sentence expanded?

• to tell where the girls played

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

• to make the sentence longer

• to include where and who details

What is the best way to expand the underlined sentence? I am tired.

• I am tired and going to be early.

• Today was a long day at school.

• After a long day of school, I am tired and going to bed early.

• I am going to bed early tonight.

What is the purpose of combining sentences?

• because sentences have too many details

• to make sentences longer

• because sentences are choppy, short, or have repetitive information

• to make my teacher happy

The underlined sentences are too short and choppy. What is the best way to combine them? I am hungry. I will eat pizza. I will play outside.

• I will play outside and eat pizza because I am hungry.

• I am hungry, so I will eat pizza and then play outside.

• I am hungry and I will eat pizza and I will play outside.

• The sentences shouldn't be combined.

Why should the underlined sentences be combined? It is late. James is tired. He wants to go to bed.

• They are confusing sentences.

• They are repetitive sentences.

• They are short and choppy, and they are related to each other.

• The original sentences are just fine.

What is the best way to combine the two underlined sentences? Weston enjoys music. He plays the trumpet. He plays the drums. He sings.

• Weston enjoys music and plays the trumpet and drums and sings.

• Since Weston enjoys music, he plays the trumpet, drums and sings.

• He plays the trumpet, drums and sings.

• Weston enjoys music.

Why should the underlined sentences be combined? Nora was thirsty. She wants a drink of water. She drank a glass of water.

• The sentences are too short.

• The sentences are repetitive.

• The sentences are too long.

• The sentences should not be combined.