| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Sentence Combining
Utilize sentence combining skills to write dependent clauses to show logical relationships, to develop parallel clauses, participial phrases, gerunds, and infinitives to achieve clarity, brevity, and emphasis; combine 4-6 kernal sentences into a syntactically correct single complex sentence.
The skill of combining short sentences into longer, more complex ones is the easiest quick-fix a student can apply to improve their writing quickly. I suggest to my students to attempt sentence combining after they have written their first draft. I do this in order for them not to get hung-up trying to make longer, complex sentence at the expense of letting their thoughts come gushing out on the paper. My more advanced students can indeed combine sentences as they write, but even they look to combine when reviewing their first draft.
The HSQGE will ask you to combine sentences they have supplied you and they will expect to see it in your writing. If you follow my advice about combining sentences upon reviewing your first draft, then you will have to write a first draft for every writing assignment on the HSGQE. I know, I know, that's not an idea that will win any popularity contests, but in reality, if you want to pass this test, it will help you immensely if you write and re-write your written assignments before turning them in.
Below are 7 sentence combining exercises taken from the writing practice test of the HSGQE. Do your best and check your answers by clicking on to the link.
1. Which of these sentences below is combined best ?
A. I was concerned before we left about the trip taking eight hours, and about getting bored with none of my friends traveling with me.
B. Before we left, I was concerned that the trip would take eight hours, I thought I might get bored with none of my friends traveling with me.
C. Concerned that I might get bored on an eight hour trip without my friends.
D. Before we left, I was concerned that the trip would take eight hours and that I would get bored with none of my friends traveling with me.
2. Anthony wrote the following two sentences.
I want to have a house with a view of the water. The water makes me feel peaceful inside.
How could these two sentence best be combined into one?
3. The Sleeping Lady
One day when
the land was still populated by giants, a young warrior and a beautiful girl
fell in love. They planned for the day when they could marry and having
children. Unfortunately, their people were at war with a neighboring people,
and the young man had to leave his beautiful maiden for battle. Battles
revealed a man's true character. She sat down to wait for him and soon fell
asleep. (6) He never returned, but she can still be seen lying down. (7)
She is
waiting for her young warrior to return.
Which of these best combines Sentences 6 and 7?
A. He never returned, but she can still be seen lying down she is waiting for her young warrior to return.
B. Her young warrior is waiting for her to return to him.
C. She is lying down, to wait for her young warrior returning to her.
D. He never returned, but we can still see her lying down, waiting for her young warrior to return.
4. Directions: A student wrote a report on hiking in South Central Alaska. There are several mistakes that need correcting. Read the first part of the report.
(1) There are many incredible trails to hike in South Central Alaska. (2) These trails have a wide range of difficulties. Eklutna Lake is one of the best hikes for beginners or those looking for a fairly easy grade. The trail hugs the lake and eventually reaches the glacier. Gull Rock is an excellent, fairly easy hike as well. The setting of this hike is more rustic, however, and people should be prepared for possible bear encounters. Bears eat mostly fish and berries. Requiring more skill and physical conditioning, the Falls Creek Trail lays just off the Seward Highway beyond McHugh Creek. This trail goes almost straight up for what seems like a mile then connects with the Bird Ridge trail and the original Iditarod trail which actually begins in Seward.
Which of these best combines Sentences 1 and 2?
A) Incredible trails to hike in South Central Alaska have a wide range of difficulties.
B) Hiking in South Central Alaska is difficult and incredible.
C) The trails in South Central Alaska have an incredible range of difficulties.
D) There are many incredible trails to hike in South Central Alaska which have a wide range of difficulties.
5. Maria wrote this report about skyscrapers. There are some mistakes that need corrections. Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing rapid. Because of the high price of land and limited space, building vertically seemed practical. Due to the development of sufficiently strong metal frameworks which were able to support many floors, the giant buildings we know as skyscrapers emerged. (4) The first metal-frame skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885. (5) It was torn down about forty-five years later. In the motion picture Godzilla, the giant beast is perched upon the Empire State Building. The world’s tallest skyscrapers are found in Chicago and New York City.
Which of these sentences best combines sentences 4 and 5?
A. The first metal-frame skyscraper, The Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885, but it was torn down about forty-five years later.
B. The first metal-frame skyscraper, The Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885, because it was torn down about forty-five years later.
C. The first metal-frame skyscraper, The Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885, and therefore it was torn down about forty-five years later.
D. The first metal-frame skyscraper, The Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885, moreover it was torn down about forty-five years later.
6. Read the two sentences below.
My first career
choice is nursing.
Nursing helps people in important ways.
How could these sentences best be combined into one?
A. As my first career choice, nursing helps people in important ways.
B. Nursing helps people in important ways because it is my first career choice.
C. My first career choice is nursing because nursing helps people in important ways.
D. My first career choice is nursing, therefore nursing helps people in important ways.
Answer: The correct answer is D. This question tests your ability to combine sentences with the proper punctuation and without unnecessary repetition. Both A and B contain punctuation errors, and C is a sentence fragment. Return to 1.
Answer 2: The correct answer is A. Answer B is not fluid and really makes no sense. Answer C is not the best answer because the referent of "it" is unclear. Answer D is a fragment. Return to 2.
Answer 3: The correct answer is D. Again you are being asked to combine sentences with correct punctuation and without unnecessary repetition. Sentence A is a run-on. Sentence B confuses the two characters. Sentence C uses incorrect punctuation and the incorrect form of "no return." Return to 3.
The correct answer is D. Answers A, B, and C do not indicate that there are a number of trails. Return to 4.