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Sentence Combining
Practice 20: Sentence-Combining Option #5
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Option #4 may be inverted to create sentence-combining option #5, also a complex sentence, which combines an idea of lesser importance (expressed or subordinated in a dependent clause) with an idea of greater importance (expressed in an independent clause):
(A comma is used when the dependent clause appears first)
The writer has chosen to emphasize “the Yahi lived in California” by expressing it in an independent clause, and the writer has chosen to de-emphasize or subordinate “when gold prospectors arrived in the early 1900s” by expressing it in a dependent clause.
Notice three things: first, both clauses are related since they both discuss the setting of Ishi, Last of His Tribe by Theodora Kroeber, second, a comma must appear between the two clauses, and third, option #5 is simply an inverted version of option #4. The following chart shows the relationship between options #4 and #5:
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Common Subordinating Conjunctions |
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Subordinating Conjunctions |
Meaning |
Example |
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after
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next |
Option #4: Teresa paid her taxes after she balanced her budget. |
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Option #5: After Teresa balanced her budget, she paid her taxes. |
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although
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in spite of the fact that |
Option #4: The morning remained calm although a breeze swept through camp in the afternoon. |
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Option #5: Although a breeze swept through camp in the afternoon, the morning remained calm. |
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as (as if)
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equally, while |
Option #4: The entrepreneur studied the market as the stocks plummeted. |
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Option #5: As the stocks plummeted, the entrepreneur studied the market. |
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because
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for the reason or cause that |
Option #4: He paints rural settings because he prefers to depict tranquil scenes. |
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Option #5: Because he prefers to depict tranquil scenes, he paints rural settings. |
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before
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in advance, prior to |
Option #4: The sailors signaled for help before the mast broke. |
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Option #5: Before the mast broke, the sailors signaled for help. |
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if
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on condition that |
Option #4: The work can be done if we upgrade the computers. |
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Option #5: If we upgrade the computers, the work can be done. |
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since
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from then until now, because |
Option #4: The population has doubled since poachers have been prosecuted. |
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Option #5: Since poachers have been prosecuted, the population has doubled. |
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unless
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except if |
Option #4: The people will be safe unless the hurricane moves west. |
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Option #5: Unless the hurricane moves west, the people will be safe. |
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until
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up to the time of |
Option #4: The company produced a profit until the cost of raw materials soared. |
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Option #5: Until the cost of raw materials soared, the company produced a profit. |
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when (whenever)
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at the time that |
Option #4: The main character suffered a series of health problems when her son died. |
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Option #5: When the main character’s son died, she suffered a series of health problems. |
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whereas
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but on the other hand |
Option #4: The white bars are horizontal whereas the black bars are vertical. |
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Option #5: Whereas the black bars are vertical, the white bars are horizontal. |
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while
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during or through the time that |
Option #4: The band played while the flags rose. |
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Option #5: While the flags rose, the band played. |
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Additional subordinating conjunctions and dependent words include the following: afterward, even though, even if, even though, even since, ever since, how, in order that, just as, just as if, now that, once, provided that, rather than, so, so that, than, that, though, till, what, whatever, where, wherever, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, why. See Chapter 15 for a discussion of subordination with relative pronouns like that, which, and who. |
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