Sentence Combining

Which of these is the simplest way to combine the two sentences by making a compound predicate? 'Maya went to the store. Maya bought some snacks.'

• Maya went to the store, and she bought some snacks.

• Maya went to the store and bought some snacks.

• Because Maya went to the store, she bought some snacks.

• Maya, who went to the store, bought some snacks.

Answer explanation

This answer correctly creates a compound predicate ('went and bought') to combine the sentences, which is the most concise way to eliminate the repeated subject 'Maya'. The other options are grammatically correct but are not as direct or simple.

Complete the sentence to form a basic compound sentence: 'I wanted to go to the park, _____ it started to rain.'

• but

• because

• so that

• although

Answer explanation

The coordinating conjunction 'but' correctly shows the contrast between the two independent clauses. 'Because' and 'although' would create complex sentences, and 'so that' does not fit the logical relationship.

True or False: When you join two complete sentences with a coordinating conjunction like 'and', 'but', or 'so', you must place a comma before the conjunction.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is the standard rule for forming a grammatically correct compound sentence. A comma before the FANBOYS conjunction is necessary to separate the two independent clauses.

Which sentence correctly uses an appositive phrase to add information? 'My friend is a great soccer player. His name is Leo.'

• My friend who is Leo is a great soccer player.

• My friend, Leo, is a great soccer player.

• My friend is Leo and a great soccer player.

• My friend is a great soccer player and Leo.

Answer explanation

This option correctly uses 'Leo' as a nonessential appositive, set off by commas, to rename the noun 'friend'. The other options are awkward or grammatically incorrect.

Complete the sentence with the subordinating conjunction that shows a cause-and-effect relationship: 'We ordered pizza ______ we were all hungry.'

• although

• while

• because

• unless

Answer explanation

The word 'because' is a subordinating conjunction that correctly introduces the reason (the cause) for ordering pizza (the effect). The other conjunctions show contrast, time, or condition.

Which of these is a sentence fragment that could result from trying to make a complex sentence?

• After we finished the project.

• We finished the project, so we celebrated.

• We celebrated after we finished the project.

• The project was finished.

Answer explanation

This is a dependent clause that cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence; it's a fragment. It needs an independent clause, like 'we celebrated,' to complete the thought.

Identify the best way to fix this comma splice: 'The movie was really funny, I laughed the whole time.'

• The movie was really funny I laughed the whole time.

• The movie was really funny; I laughed the whole time.

• The movie was really funny, and, I laughed the whole time.

• The movie was really funny, I, laughed the whole time.

Answer explanation

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma. Using a semicolon is a correct way to join two closely related independent clauses.

Complete the sentence using a relative pronoun to combine the ideas: 'The teacher _____ gave us the assignment is new to our school.'

• which

• who

• whose

• whom

Answer explanation

'Who' is the correct relative pronoun to refer to a person ('the teacher') when that person is the subject of the clause. 'Which' is for things, and 'whose' shows possession.

Which sentence correctly uses a participial phrase to combine these ideas? 'The cat was napping in the sun. The cat looked very peaceful.'

• The cat looked very peaceful, it was napping in the sun.

• Napping in the sun, the cat looked very peaceful.

• The cat was napping in the sun and looked very peaceful.

• The cat which was napping in the sun looked very peaceful.

Answer explanation

This option correctly uses the present participial phrase 'Napping in the sun' to modify 'the cat' and create a more descriptive and varied sentence opening. This avoids repetition and wordiness.

Show you can combine these two sentences using a nonrestrictive phrase set off by dashes: 'The fastest runner in our class is Maria. She won the race easily.'

• Maria, the fastest runner in our class, won the race easily.

• Maria—the fastest runner in our class—won the race easily.

• Maria is the fastest runner in our class and she won the race easily.

• Maria won the race easily—she is the fastest runner in our class.

Answer explanation

This option effectively uses an appositive phrase ('the fastest runner in our class') and sets it off with dashes to create emphasis. Dashes are a strong punctuation choice for interrupting a sentence with extra information.