1、SENTENCE-COMBINING SKILLSThe Need to Combine SentencesSentences have to be combined to avoid the monotony that would surely result if all sentences were brief and of equal length. Compounding SentencesA compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. That means that there are at least
2、 two units of thought within the sentence, either one of which can stand by itself as its own sentence. And the two most common coordinating conjunctions are and and but. (The others are or, for, yet, and so.) This is the simplest technique we have for combining ideas: Meriwether Lewis is justly fam
3、ous for his expedition into the territory of the Louisiana Purchase and beyond, but few people know of his contributions to natural science. Lewis had been well trained by scientists in Philadelphia prior to his expedition, and he was a curious man by nature.Subordinating One Clause to AnotherThe ac
4、t of coordinating clauses simply links ideas; subordinating one clause to another establishes a more complex relationship between ideas, showing that one idea depends on another in some way: a chronological development, a cause-and-effect relationship, a conditional relationship, etc. William Clark
5、was not officially granted the rank of captain prior to the expeditions departure. Captain Lewis more or less ignored this technicality and treated Clark as his equal in authority and rank. Although William Clark was not officially granted the rank of captain prior to the expeditions departure, Capt
6、ain Lewis more or less ignored this technicality and treated Clark as his equal in authority and rank.Using Appositives to Connect IdeasThe appositive is probably the most efficient technique we have for combining ideas. An appositive or appositive phrase is a renaming, a re-identification, of somet
7、hing earlier in the text. You can think of an appositive as a modifying clause from which the clausal machinery (usually a relative pronoun and a linking verb) has been removed. An appositive is often, but not always, a parenthetical element which requires a pair of commas to set it off from the res
8、t of the sentence. Sacagawea, who was one of the Indian wives of Charbonneau, who was a French fur-trader, accompanied the expedition as a translator. A pregnant, fifteen-year-old Indian woman, Sacagawea, one of the wives of the French fur-trader Charbonneau, accompanied the expedition as a translat
9、or.Using Participial Phrases to Connect IdeasA writer can integrate the idea of one sentence into a larger structure by turning that idea into a modifying phrase. Captain Lewis allowed his men to make important decisions in a democratic manner. This democratic attitude fostered a spirit of togethern
10、ess and commitment on the part of Lewiss fellow explorers. Allowing his men to make important decisions in a democratic manner, Lewis fostered a spirit of togetherness and commitment among his fellow explorers.In the sentence above, the participial phrase modifies the subject of the sentence, Lewis.
11、 Phrases like this are usually set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma. The expeditionary force was completely out of touch with their families for over two years. They put their faith entirely in Lewis and Clarks leadership. They never once rebelled against their authority. Completely ou
12、t of touch with their families for over two years, the men of the expedition put their faith in Lewis and Clarks leadership and never once rebelled against their authority. Using Absolute Phrases to Connect IdeasPerhaps the most elegant and most misunderstood method of combining ideas is the absolut
13、e phrase. This phrase, which is often found at the beginning of sentence, is made up of a noun (the phrases “subject“) followed, more often than not, by a participle. Other modifiers might also be part of the phrase. There is no true verb in an absolute phrase, however, and it is always treated as a
14、 parenthetical element, an introductory modifier, which is set off by a comma. The absolute phrase might be confused with a participial phrase, and the difference between them is structurally slight but significant. The participial phrase does not contain the subject-participle relationship of the a
15、bsolute phrase; it modifies the subject of the independent clause that follows. The absolute phrase, on the other hand, is said to modify the entire clause that follows. In the first combined sentence below, for instance, the absolute phrase modifies the subject Lewis, but it also modifies the verb,
16、 telling us “under what conditions“ or “in what way“ or “how“ he disappointed the world. The absolute phrase thus modifies the entire subsequent clause and should not be confused with a dangling participle, which must modify the subject which immediately follows. Lewiss fame and fortune was virtuall
17、y guaranteed by his exploits. Lewis disappointed the entire world by inexplicably failing to publish his journals. His fame and fortune virtually guaranteed by his exploits, Lewis disappointed the entire world by inexplicably failing to publish his journals. Lewiss long journey was finally completed
18、. His men in the Corps of Discovery were dispersed. Lewis died a few years later on his way back to Washington, D.C., completely alone. His long journey completed and his men in the Corps of Discovery dispersed, Lewis died a few years later on his way back to Washington, D.C., completely alone. Dire
19、ctions: In the text-area below each group of sentences, combine all of those sentences into one effective sentence containing only one independent clause.1. Hartford was once known as an industrial center. It was the home of several manufacturers. They made firearms, typewriters, bicycles, and even
20、cars.Once known as an industrial center, Hartford was the home of manufacturers of firearms, typewriters, bicycles, and even cars2. Manufacturers once took advantage of Hartfords access to the Connecticut River. They also enjoyed Hartfords well-educated workforce.Manufacturers once took advantage of
21、 Hartfords access to the Connecticut River and the citys well-educated workforce3. Mark Twains house was very elaborate and elegant. It was on Farmington Avenue. It was in an area called Nook Farm. He was a neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Toms Cabin.Mark Twains e
22、laborate and elegant house on Farmington Avenue was in an area called Nook Farm, where he was a neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Toms Cabin.4 Mark Twains home has a large side porch. Windows and a balcony overlook the porch. Today, people say the windows and balcony remind them of a steamboat. In his youth, Twain piloted steamboats on the Mississippi.Today, people say that the balcony and windows overlooking the large side porch on Twains home remind them of a steamboat, the kind of Mississippi steamboat young Mark Twain used to pilot.
