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Combining Sentences
What is the best way to combine the following sentences?
1. She and Alvin picked cotton to earn money. They cleaned houses to earn money.
a. She and Alvin picked cotton and cleaned houses to earn money.
b. Alvin and his mother picked cotton and they cleaned houses to earn money.
c. She and Alvin were picking cotton and cleaning houses to earn money.
d. Alvin and his mother earned money and picked cotton.
2. Mom and Dad took me to the airport. They took me there for a visit with my grandparents.
a. Mom and Dad took me to the airport for visiting with my grandparents.
b. Mom and Dad took me to the airport for a visit with my grandparents.
c. Mom and Dad took me to the airport so I could get on the plane and so I could visit my grandparents.
d. Mom and Dad took me to the airport and my grandparents were visiting.
3. I was scared to hold Colton at first. I was scared to hold him because he was so small.
a. I was scared of Colton and being so small.
b. I was scared to hold Colton, he was so small.
c. I was scared to hold Colton because he was so small.
d. Being small, I was scared to hold Colton.
4. I swam back to shore. I was very wet and cold.
a. I was very wet, cold and swam back to shore.
b. I swam back to shore and being very wet and cold.
c. Being very wet and cold, I was swimming back to shore.
d. I swam back to shore very wet and cold.
5. In first grade, Ruby was the first African American student. She went to a school where white children
attended.
a. In first grade, Ruby was the first African American to go to a school where white children attended.
b. In first grade, Ruby’s school was for African American and for white students.
c. Ruby was the first to go to school, and she went where white children went.
d. In first grade, Ruby was the first to go to school, and she was African American.
6. She liked to create clay farm animals. She knew she wanted to be a sculptor when she grew up.
a. She liked to create clay farm animals when she grew up and wanted to be a sculptor.
b. She liked to create clay farm animals and knew she wanted to be a sculptor when she grew up.
c. She wanted to be a sculptor when she grew up, and she liked creating clay farm animals when she was a child.
d. She created clay farm animals when she was a child, and she was a sculptor when she grew up.
7. Last summer my family visited New York City. We went to Karen’s house.
a. Last summer my family visited Karen in New York City.
b. My family visited New York City and went to Karen’s house last summer.
c. My family visited Karen last summer, and we visited New York City.
d. Last summer my family visited New York City and my friend Karen.
8. He quit the lessons. He forgot about the piano.
a. He quit the lessons and forgetting about the piano.
b. Forgetting about the piano, he quit the lessons.
c. After quitting the lessons, he was forgetting about the piano.
d. He quit the lessons and forgot about the piano.
9. I have read it several times. I enjoy it each time.
a. I have read it several times, so I enjoy it each time.
b. I have read it several times I enjoy it each time.
c. I have been reading it several times, and I have been enjoying it several times.
d. I have read it several times, and I enjoy it each time.
10. I washed two red apples. I put chocolate chip cookies in two small plastic bags.
a. I washed two red apples and put chocolate chip cookies in two small plastic bags.
b. I washed two red apples and putting chocolate chips in two small plastic bags.
c. I washed two red apples and chocolate chip cookies in two small plastic bags.
d. I washed two red apples and put chocolate chip cookies.
11. The plane trip was long and boring. It took nine hours.
a. The plane trip was long and boring, and it took nine hours.
b. The nine-hour plane trip was long and boring.
c. The long and boring plane trip was also nine hours long.
d. The long plane trip was nine hours long, and it was boring.
12. Peg Kehret is a famous author of children’s books. She has written over twenty-five books.
a. Peg Kehret is a famous author of children’s books, she has written twenty-five.
b. Peg Kehret is a famous author, but she has written over twenty-five books.
c. Peg Kehret, she has written over twenty-five famous books.
d. Peg Kehret is a famous author of over twenty-five children’s books.
13. One bundle contained a man and a baby. The two were wrapped in over 300 pounds of cotton.
a. One bundle contained a man and baby and they were wrapped in over 300 pounds of cotton.
b. One bundle contained a man and a baby and wrapped in over 300 pounds of cotton.
c. One bundle containing a man and a baby and wrapping in over 300 pounds of cotton.
d. One bundle contained a man and a baby wrapped in over 300 pounds of cotton.
14. Later, Derek won his gold medal in the 1.500-meter speed skating race. He set a new world record.
a. Later, Derek won his gold medal, the 1,500-meter speed skating race, setting a new world record.
b. Later, Derek won his cold medal and set a world record in the 1,500-meter speed skating race.
c. Derek set a world record, and in the 1,500-meter speed skating race he won the gold medal later.
d. Later, Derek won his medal in the 1,500-meter speed skating race, and he also set a new world record.
15. They have very sharp teeth. They use their teeth to attack animals and eat them.
a. They have very sharp teeth, and their teeth attack animals and eat animals.
b. With their very sharp teeth, they attack animals and they eat animals.
c. Their teeth that are very sharp are attacking animals and eating them.
d. They have very sharp teeth that they use to attack and eat animals.
16. When Sacagawea was about twelve years old, she was captured by an enemy tribe. She was later sold as a
slave.
a. When Sacagawea was about twelve years old, captured by an enemy tribe and sold as a slave.
b. When Sacagawea was about twelve years old, she was captured by an enemy tribe and later sold as a slave.
c. Sacagawea was later sold after she was captured by an enemy tribe and became a slave when she was twelve.
d. Sacagawea later became a slave after she was captured by an enemy tribe.
17. I had never seen a screech owl. The article said that I lived in the right part of Texas to find screech owls.
a. I had never seen a screech owl, but the article said I lived in the right part of Texas to find them.
b. I had never seen a screech owl and living in the right part of Texas to find them.
c. The article said I lived in the right part of Texas to find screech owls, and I had never seen one.
d. I had never seen a screech owl and said I was living in the right part of Texas.
REWRITING SENTENCES
What is the BEST way to rewrite the ideas in these sentences:
18. In this book, her family and Amelia are moving and they are moving to a new state.
19. I learned that some Native Americans had a job, and the job was to catch eagles.
e. I learned that some Native Americans had the job of catching eagles.
f. I learned that some Native Americans had a job. The job was to catch eagles.
g. I learned that some Native Americans catching eagles had jobs.
h. I learned that to catch eagles was a hard job that some Native Americans had.
20. Anguiano thought women should be having good jobs and should be having good child care.
21. The cloth felt like thick, stiff paper it was decorated with bold black and brown designs.
a. The cloth was thick and stiff. It felt like paper decorated in bold black and brown designs.
b. The cloth felt like thick, stiff paper, it was decorated with bold black and brown designs.
c. The cloth felt like thick, stiff paper. It was decorated with bold black and brown designs.
d. Decorated in bold and black and brown designs, the cloth felt stiff and thick like paper.
22. Many people were angry about this they did not want segregation to stop.
a. Many people were angry because they wanted segregation.
b. They wanted to stop segregation. People were angry.
c. Many people were angry about this. They did not want segregation to stop.
d. Many people wanted segregation to stop, and they were angry about segregation.
23. The clay is soaked in water to soften it then it is formed into many different shapes.
a. The clay is soaked in water to soften the shapes. The shapes are formed from the clay.
b. The clay is soaked in water and the water softens the clay to make the shapes.
c. The clay is soaked in water to soften it. Then it is formed into shapes.
d. The clay soaking water to soften it is then formed into shapes.
24. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat also heard his chirps, and they also decided to become his secret friends.
a. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat also heard his chirps and became his secret friends.
b. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat also heard his chirps. Also decided to become his secret friends.
c. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat also heard his chirps and his secret friends.
d. Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat also heard his chirps and becoming his secret friends.
25. For many years, people tried to change or destroy the Alamo and refused to let it happen.
a. When people tried to change or destroy the Alamo for many years, De Zavala wouldn’t let them.
b. People tried to change or destroy the Alamo for many years, but De Zavala refusing to allow it to happen.
c. For many years, people tried to change or destroy the Alamo. De Zavala refused to let that happen.
d. For many years, she refused to let anyone change or destroy the Alamo whenever anyone tried.
26. People liked Duke’s music he soon had a band called the Washingtonians.
a. People liked Duke’s music. He soon had a band. The band was called the Washingtonians.
b. People liked Duke’s music. His band was called the Washingtonians.
c. People liked Duke’s music. He soon had a band called the Washingtonians.
d. Duke had a band called the Washingtonians because they liked his music.
27. The big, red bus had two levels.
a. The bus was big, was red, and had two levels.
b. The bus was big and red.
c. The bus was big with red and two levels.
d. Make no change.
28. People from all over the world come to live in the United States these people are called immigrants.
a. People from all over the world come to live in the United States. These people are called immigrants.
b. People from all over the world come to live. In the United States, these people are called immigrants.
c. People from all over the world come to the United States, and these people called immigrants live here.
d. People in the United States called immigrants come to live. They are from all over the world.
29. Most students didn’t understand what he meant I knew right away.
a. Most students didn’t understand what he meant. I knew right away.
b. Most students did not understand, what he meant, and I knew right away.
c. Most students didn’t understand what he meant, so I knew what he meant right away.
d. Most students didn’t understand what he meant, and so I knew right way.
30. Sometimes she also let her dog wear the necklace she thought this was a fun way to show off to her friends.
a. Sometimes she let her dog wear the necklace. Show off to her friends.
b. Sometimes she let her dog wear the necklace. She thought this was a fun way to show off to her friends.
c. Sometimes the dog was showing off. She was wearing the necklace.
d. Sometimes showing off to her friends. The dog wore the necklace.
31. He left the room and returning with a very old looking book.
a. He left the room and returned with a very old looking book.
b. He left and came back and had a very old looking book.
c. He left the room and a very old book was with him when he returned.
d. He left the room and brining back a very old looking book.
32. I don’t need to wait until I grew up I am already a painter of murals.
a. I don’t need to wait. Until I grow up, I am already a painter of murals.
b. I was already a painter of murals. I waited until I grew up.
c. I don’t need to wait until I grow up. I am already a painter of murals.
d. I don’t need to wait to be a painter of murals. I already painted them.
33. One day I hope to buy my own Panama hat I will call it my Ecuadorian hat.
a. I’ll name my hat an Ecuadorian hat when I hope to buy my Panama hat one day.
b. My Panama hat when I buy it will be my Ecuadorian hat one day.
c. One day I hope to buy my own Panama hat. I will call it my Ecuadorian hat.
d. One day when I hope to buy my Panama hat, and I will call it my Ecuadorian hat.
34. On a windless day, she was stuffing feathers into the hole and was stuffing until it was full.
a. On a windless day, she stuffed feathers into the hold. She stuffed and stuffed until the pillow was full.
b. On a windless day, she stuffed feathers. She stuffed the feathers into the hole until the pillow was full.
c. On a windless day, she stuffed feathers into the hole until the pillow was full.
d. On a windless day, she was stuffing feathers into the hole until the pillow was full.
35. After Jackie finished college, a man named Branch Rickey asked Jackie to play and asked him to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
a. After Jackie finished college, a man named Branch Rickey asked in 1947 Jackie to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
b. After Jackie finished college, a man named Branch Rickey played with Jackie and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
c. After Jackie finished college, a man named Branch Rickey asked Jackie to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
d. After Jackie finished college, a man named Branch Rickey asking Jackie to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
36. Salt dips are tiny dishes holding salt.
a. Salt dips are tiny dishes, and they hold salt.
b. Salt dips are tiny dishes that hold salt.
c. Salt dips are tiny dishes. The dishes hold salt.
d. Salt dips hold tiny dishes of salt.
37. In the 1760s, Americans grew angry with Great Britain they wanted more freedom.
a. In the 1760s, Americans grew angry with Great Britain because wanted more freedom.
b. In the 1760s Americans grew angry and more wanted freedom with Great Britain.
c. In the 1760s, Americans grew angry with Great Britain because they wanted more freedom.
d. Americans they wanted more freedom from Great Britain in the 1750s.
38. “You heard me make a wish and be quick about it!” the spoon said.
a. “You heard me, and be quick about making a wish!” the spoon said.
b. “You heard me make a wish. Be quick about it!” the spoon said.
c. “You heard me. Make a wish and be quick about it!” said the spoon.
d. “Make a wish and be quick about it because you heard me!” said the spoon.
Answer Key
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. D
9. D
10. A
11. B
12. D
13. D
14. B
15. D
16. B
17. A
18. D
19. A
20. D
21. C
22. C
23. C
24. A
25. C
26. C
27. D
28. A
29. A
30. B
31. A
32. C
33. C
34. C
35. C
36. B
37. C
38. C