Combining Sentences Practice

Combine the following sentences correctly using a coordinating conjunction: 'I wanted to go to the park. It started to rain.'

• I wanted to go to the park, however it started to rain.

• I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain.

• I wanted to go to the park, so it started to rain.

• I wanted to go to the park it started to rain.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"But" is the correct conjunction to combine these sentences because it show contrast between the 2 ideas.

Wrong Answers:

"However" shows contrast, but "however" is NOT a conjunction. It's a transition word (or sentence starter).

"So" implies a cause-effect relationship, which doesn't make sense.

The last answer choice uses no punctuation or conjunction to combine the sentences.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.5.11D.VIII

Choose the best way to combine these sentences: 'She finished her homework. She watched TV.'

• She finished her homework, she watched TV.

• She finished her homework because she watched TV.

• After she finished her homework, she watched TV.

• She finished her homework, therefore she watched TV.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"After" is the correct conjunction to combine these sentences because it shows one thing happened after the other.

Wrong Answers:

"Therefore" makes sense in this sentence. However, "therefore" is NOT a conjunction. It's a transition word (or sentence starter).

It doesn't make sense to say she finished her homework because she watched TV.

The last answer choice uses only a comma, to combine the sentences, which is never okay.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.I

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.I

TEKS.ELA.5.11D.I

Which answer combines these sentences using a conjunction that makes sense and proper punctuation ? 'Tom studied for the test. He did not pass.'

• Tom studied for the test, but he did not pass.

• Tom studied for the test, so he did not pass.

• Tom studied for the test, nevertheless he did not pass.

• Tom studied for the test, he did not pass.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"But" with a comma is the correct answer because it shows the contrast between the ideas.

Wrong Answers:

"Nevertheless" makes sense in this sentence. However, "nevertheless" is NOT a conjunction. It's a transition word (or sentence starter).

"So" doesn't make sense because it suggests that studying for the test led to him not passing.

The last answer choice uses only a comma to combine the sentences, which is never okay.

Which sentence combines the ideas using a subordinating conjunction and correct punctuation? 'Maria was tired. She went to bed early.'

• Maria went to bed early, because she was tired.

• Maria was tired although she went to bed early.

• Because Maria was tired, she went to bed early.

• Maria was tired, therefore she went to bed early.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

Because Maria was tired, she went to bed early. This is correct because it shows the logical relationship between being tired and going to bed. Also, it uses a comma correctly. When the "because" comes at the start of a sentence, you should use a comma.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.I

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.I

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.I

Identify the sentence that avoids a comma splice and uses a coordinating conjunction: 'James likes pizza. He does not like pasta.'

• James likes pizza, he does not like pasta.

• James likes pizza, but he does not like pasta.

• James likes pizza, however he does not like pasta.

• James likes pizza but he does not like pasta.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"But" with a comma is the correct answer because it shows the contrast between the ideas.

Wrong Answers:

"However" makes sense in this sentence, but "however" is NOT a conjunction. It's a transition word (or sentence starter).

"But" without a comma is not correct because we always use a comma with FANBOYS to combine sentences.

The last answer choice uses only a comma to combine the sentences, which is never okay.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.E1.9D.V

TEKS.ELA.E2.9C

TEKS.ELA.E2.9D.V

Choose the best way to combine these sentences: 'It took five hours to finish my history project. I couldn't figure out how to label the map.'

• It took five hours to finish my history project, I couldn't figure out how to label the map.

• Even though I couldn't figure out how to label the map, it took five hours to finish my history project.

• Because I couldn't figure out how to label the map, it took five hours to finish my history project.

• It took five hours to finish my history project, so I couldn't figure out how to label the map.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"Because" is the best conjunction to combine these sentences because it shows the cause-effect relationship between the ideas.

Wrong Answer:

"Even though" doesn't make sense to combine these sentences because it suggests the relationship between the ideas is that they are opposite.

"It took five hours to finish my history project, so I couldn't figure out how to label the map." This is wrong because it reverses the cause-effect relationship.

The last answer choice uses only a comma to combine the sentences, which is never okay.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.I

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.I

TEKS.ELA.5.11D.I

Select the sentence that uses a coordinating conjunction to show cause and effect: 'Sam forgot his umbrella. He got wet.'

• Sam forgot his umbrella, so he got wet.

• Sam forgot his umbrella, but he got wet.

• Sam forgot his umbrella, although he got wet.

• Sam forgot his umbrella, then he got wet.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.3.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.4.11D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.5.11D.VIII

Which sentence correctly uses a conjunction to show contrast? 'Anna wanted to go out. It was raining.'

• Anna wanted to go out, and it was raining.

• Although it was raining, Anna wanted to go out.

• Anna wanted to go out, so it was raining.

• Anna wanted to go out, however it was raining.

Answer explanation

"Although" is correct because it shows the contrast between wanting to go outside and the rain.

"However" is wrong because the word "however" is NOT a conjunction. It's a transition word (or sentence starter).

"And" and "so" are both incorrect because neither word shows contrast.

What is the best way to combine these sentences? 'Tomorrow is going to be the best day. I have to take a test that I'm dreading.'

• Tomorrow is going to be the best day even though I have to take a test that I'm dreading.

• Tomorrow is going to be the best day since I have to take a test that I'm dreading.

• Tomorrow is going to be the best day, and I have to take a test that I'm dreading.

• Tomorrow is going to be the best day, I have to take a test that I'm dreading.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"Even though" is the correct conjunction to combine these sentences because it shows the contrast between the ideas.

Wrong Answers:

"Since" is not the correct conjunction because it implies having to take a dreaded test CAUSES tomorrow to be the best day.

"And" is not the correct conjunction because it suggests the 2 ideas are similar instead of opposite.

The last answer choice uses only a comma to combine sentences, which is never okay.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.I

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.I

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.I

Which answer combines the sentences using a conjunction that makes sense and correct punctuation? 'Lisa was late. The bus broke down.'

• Lisa was late because the bus broke down.

• Lisa was late, because the bus broke down.

• Lisa was late, also the bus broke down.

• Lisa was late, so the bus broke down.

Answer explanation

Right Answer:

"Lisa was late because the bus broke down." This answer is correct because it shows the cause-effect relationship, and it does not use a comma. (When "because" comes in the middle of the sentence, you should not use a comma.)

Wrong Answer:

"Lisa was late, because the bus broke down." This answer is not correct because it uses a comma. (When "because" comes in the middle of the sentence, you should not use a comma.)

"Also" is not correct because it "also" is not a conjunction. It is a transition word (or sentence starter). Additionally, it doesn't show the cause-effect relationship.

"Lisa was late, so the bus broke down." This is not correct because it suggests Lisa being late led to the bus breaking down.