Combining Sentences
Coordination: You can use coordinators to help you
connect two closely related independent clauses.
An independent clause is essentially a full idea which is expressed through a subject + main verb
combination.
For example:
Sara forgot her umbrella
It was raining
S
V
O
S
V
The sentences above are independent clauses because they communicate a complete thought
and contain all the parts of a complete sentence (Subject, verb, + additional information as
necessary).
We cannot connect these independent clauses with a comma. This will cause a comma splice.
X It was raining hard, Sara forgot her umbrella. X
We can connect these sentences with a coordinator and the proper punctuation.
Independent clause
*Coordinators are not
interchangeable. Make
sure you use the best
vocabulary to suit your
meaning.
[coordinator]
,and
,but
,or
,for
,yet
,so
; also,
;anyway,
;as a result,
;besides,
;certainly,
;consequently,
;finally,
; fortunately,
;furthermore,
;however,
;incidentally,
;in addition,
;in fact,
;indeed,
;instead,
;likewise,
;meanwhile,
;moreover,
;nevertheless,
;next now on,
;the other
hand,
;otherwise,
;similarly,
; still,
; then,
;therefore,
;thus,
;undoubtedly,
;unfortunately,
Independent clause
Use a comma (,)
before these
coordinators!
Use a semi-colon (;)
or period (.) before,
and a comma (,) after
these coordinators !
Our correctly combined sentences may look like one of these:
It was raining, but Sara forgot her umbrella.
Sara forgot her umbrella; incidentally, it was raining.
Subordination: You can use subordinators to connect two parts of a sentence.
Sara forgot her umbrella. Incidentally, it was raining.
©Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014
www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Combining Sentences
A subordinator can make a clause into a subordinate (or dependent) clause.
Independent clause: Sara forgot her umbrella.
(An independent clause can be a full sentence on its own.)
We can combine independent and dependent clauses in two ways
Subordinate clause:
After Sara forgot her umbrella,
(A subordinate clause cannot be a full sentence; you need to add an independent clause)
Independent clause
[subordinator]
after
although
as
as if
because
before
even though
if
in order that
in case
It was raining all week
+
[subordinated clause]
since
so that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
whereas
whether
while
Sara forgot her umbrella.
*No commas are
needed if the
subordinator is placed
mid-sentence.
 It was raining when Sara forgot her umbrella.
[subordinator]
After
Although
As
As if
Because
Before
Even though
If
In order that
In case
+
Since
So that
Though
Unless
Until
When
Whenever
Whereas
Whether
While
[subordinated clause]
Sara forgot her umbrella,
,
independent clause.
it was raining all week.
*Use a comma after the subordinate
clause when the subordinator begins
the sentence
 When Sara forgot her umbrella, it was raining.
©Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014
www.georgebrown.ca/tlc