Lesson 4: Paraphrase by Combining Sentences

Welcome to Lesson 4 of the Paraphrase Writing E-course. Let’s review what you have studied so far.

  • Lesson 1 increased your vocabulary power through synonyms.
  • Lesson 2 improved your knowledge of sentence patterns by learning how to write passive sentences.
  • Lesson 3 showed you how to rewrite parts of speech by changing nouns to verbs.

In this lesson, you will learn how to combine two short sentences into one long sentence.

Before you start, here is a checklist of words you will need to know by the end of this lesson:

  • coordinating conjunctions
  • subordinate conjunctions
  • relative clauses
  • relative pronouns
  • appositives

Is sentence combining good for you?

Oh yeah. There are three benefits for you.

  • First, you will get a deeper understanding of how to write different kinds of sentences.
  • Second, you will learn how to write complex sentences.
  • Third, you will upgrade your knowledge of words and expressions.

How to Combine Sentences?

There are many ways to combine sentences. In this lesson you will learn and practice four ways. After reading the lesson, download the worksheet and try the writing exercises.

Sentence Combination 1: Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are small words that join two sentences without changing many of the words. These conjunctions go in between two sentences. They usually don’t go at the beginning or end of a sentence.

There are seven conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

This group of conjunctions is sometimes called FANBOYS. Each FANBOYS word has a different purpose.

For tells us the reason. They love music, for it is exhilarating.
And means in addition. My father likes to drink coffee and read the newspaper.
Nor is negative. John doesn’t do his homework nor does he want to study.
But and yet show contrast. Sally is good at diving but she prefers soccer.
Or gives another reason or choice. I need a break or I will go nuts.
So tells us the result. My student’s family doesn’t have much money so he dropped out of school.

Here is an example.

  • The students went to school. They did not want to go to school.
  • The students went to school but they did not want to.

Sentence Combination 2: Subordinate Conjunctions

Subordinate conjunctions words join two clauses. They are similar to the coordinating conjunctions but there are two differences.

  1. Subordinate conjunctions can go at the front of the sentence or in the middle.
  2. You have to change some words in one of the sentences.

There are lots of words which can be used to join sentences with subordination. Here is a list.

  • after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though
  • for, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until,
  • when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, while

Here is an example of how two sentences can be combined with a subordination word.

The computer was making a loud noise. The computer was broken.

  1. The computer was making a loud noise because it was broken.
  2. Because the computer was broken, it was making a loud noise.

Sentence Combination 3: Relative Clauses

Relative clauses provide extra information about something. In this lesson, we use relative clauses to talk about nouns. So in this lesson, a relative clauses acts like an adjective.

These relative clauses begin with three relative pronouns: “which, that or who.”

Here are three examples.

  • Motorcycle racing is a dangerous sport. It is enjoyed by many young people.
  • Motorcycle racing is a dangerous sport which is enjoyed by many young people.
  • The cat loved a mouse. The mouse was beautiful.
  • The cat loved a mouse that was beautiful.
  • Alfred Einstein was a famous scientist. He won a Noble prize for his work in theoretical physics.
  • Alfred Einstein was a famous scientist who won a Noble prize for his work in theoretical physics.

Sentence Combination 4: Appositives

Appositives? Huh? Sounds hard, but it isn’t.

An appositive is a noun that describes another noun. The appositive can be a single word or many words (a phrase). An appositive looks like a relative clause but there are no words like ‘which, who or that’ at the beginning of the clause.

Here are three examples; the appositives are in red.

The appositive can go at the front of the sentence. Like this:

  • A skilled but wild hockey player, Jack skated to the referee and punched him in the nose.

An appositive can go in the middle of the sentence, usually with lots of commas. Like this:

  • Jack, a skilled but wild hockey player, skated to the referee and punched him in the nose.

Or an appositive can go at the end of the sentence. Like this:

  • The fans cheered Jack, a skilled but wild hockey player who skated to the referee and punched him in the nose.

Now it’s your turn

You’ve learned four ways to combine two sentences into one. Now try the worksheet.

Click here to download the exercise sheet and suggested answers.

Good luck.