Writer's Choice Grade 7

Unit 21: Grammar Through Sentence Combining

Overview

Combining short, choppy sentences into longer, smoother sentences will make your writing more engaging. Sometimes two or more simple sentences share information. The information from one of the sentences can often be added to the other sentence in the form of a prepositional phrase, an appositive, an adjective clause, or an adverb clause.

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. Prepositional phrases help you pack more information into your sentences. Because prepositional phrases show relationships, they can effectively express complex ideas. Consider the following simple sentences. Courtney enjoys playing video games. Courtney plays video games at home. You could combine these sentences using a prepositional phrase: Courtney enjoys playing video games at home.

Appositives can also enable you to combine short sentences into one longer, more interesting sentence. An appositive is a noun that is placed next to and explains or identifies another noun. An appositive phrase includes an appositive and other words that describe it. Think about the following simple sentences. Keiko enjoys playing racing and driving video games. Keiko is Courtney's neighbor. You could combine these sentences using an appositive phrase: Keiko, Courtney's neighbor, enjoys playing racing and driving video games.

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. The relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, and that are used to tie the adjective clause to the main clause. Study the subsequent sentences. Courtney and Keiko often play a racing game together. Courtney and Keiko are neighbors. You could combine these sentences using an adjective clause: Courtney and Keiko, who are neighbors, often play a racing game together.

Adverb clauses are especially effective in showing relationships between two or more actions. An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies the verb in the main clause. Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions, such as after, although, because, before, since, when, whenever, if, and while. Consider the following sentences. Keiko runs over to Courtney's house. Keiko wants to play Courtney's racing game. You could combine these sentences using an adverb clause: Keiko runs over to Courtney's house because she wants to play Courtney's racing game.