Sentence Combining using 

a.    Participial Phrases

There are two types: Present (where the verb ends in -ing) and Past (where the verb ends in -ed/-d/-t/irregular past participle).

Every phrase must begin with a present (ing) or past (ed) participle otherwise it becomes something else (like an adjective clause or adverb clause).

The phrase can usually be placed before or after the noun/pronoun it modifies, and sometimes it can be placed at the end of the sentence.

When doing the exercises, don't forget to insert commas where necessary or leave capital letters in the middle of the sentences.

To combine sentences, find the verb and its phrase in one sentence, turn it into the correct form (past or present), then add the phrase to the correct place in the other sentence.

e.g. Wanting to improve your written ability, we will focus on combining sentences using these phrases in tests and exams.

b.    Adjective clauses

There are two types of clause, necessary (to identify the noun) or not necessary (for identifying the noun).  Necessary clauses don't have commas; unnecessary clauses do.

Every clause must begin with a relative pronoun RP (who, whose, whom, which, that) and contain a verb.

The clause must be placed after the noun/pronoun it is modifying.

To combine sentences, identify the common subject in the sentences, delete the one subject, choose the correct RP, and add the remaining clause in the correct place.

e.g. The test and exam questions, which we hope will improve your written ability, will focus on combining sentences using these clauses.

c.    Adverb Clauses

These are subordinate clauses that describe a verb, adjective, or adverb in the sentence.

Every clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g. before, after, because, therefore)

They are sometimes separated from the main clause by a comma.

To combine sentences, work out what is the relationship (time, cause, effect, condition, etc) between the two sentences then connect them with a suitable conjunction.

e.g. The test and exam questions will focus on combining sentences using these clauses since we want to improve your written ability.

d.    Noun Clauses

These are clauses where a subject and its verb are a thing (a saying, a time, a fact, a place, a person, etc)

They begin with a connector like that, who, whoever, whom, whomever, when, whenever, which, whichever.

To combine the sentences, see which sentence can be turned into a thing, select the connector, and place it in the correct position in the first sentence.

e.g.  Please let the person holding the gun have whatever he wants to take from the cash drawer.

Revising/Changing sentences 

a.    To correct Run-on Sentences, Fragments & Comma Splices

A run-on sentence is actually two sentences where the full-stop has been left out so that the sentence runs over (on) into the next sentence.  You can fix this quite easily by simply inserting a full-stop, or semi-colon (if the two sentences are very similar in structure), or suitable conjunction.  SEE YOUR CLASS NOTES FOR EXAMPLES.

A comma splice is similar to a run-on sentence but a comma or "and" has been used to connect what should be two separate sentences.  You fix it in the same way as the run-on sentence.  Be careful, since a lot of you use this, you often don't see it as a mistake.  

A sentence fragment is an incomplete part of a sentence.  All sentences must have at least a subject and a verb.  If they don't have that, then they are incomplete.  If you can't work out from the grammar, just read the sentence and try to listen to whether it is finished/completed.  You can fix it my adding whatever else you need.  SEE YOUR CLASS WORK FOR EXAMPLES.

b.    Beginning with a phrase

Sometimes a phrase (like a prepositional phrase or a participial phrase) can be moved to the beginning of a sentence.

For example, Eminem is a controversial white rapper who has recently burst onto the music scene.

can be written as:

A controversial white rapper, Eminem has recently burst onto the music scene.

Bursting onto the music scene recently, Eminem is a controversial white rapper.

c.  Beginning with a clause

In the same way that phrases can be moved to the front of a sentence, a sentence can be rearranged so that noun and adverb clauses also begin a sentence.

Eminem is controversial because he has insulted a large number of famous people and people that he knows personally.

can become: Because he has insulted a large number of famous people and people he knows personally, Eminem is controversial.

The Passive and Causative

The notes in your book are quite clear and so are the extra exercises.  

Modals

The first two pages are hopefully revision of grade 11 work.

Here is a summary table of the following pages.  Hope it helps.

Offer, Requests, Suggestions

Expressing Wishes

Expressing Preferences

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Last modified: Saturday March 01, 2003.