TOEFL - Grammar practice - 1.4 The compound sentences
Study:
1.When we join two or more simple sentences, we make a compound
sentence:
Tom phoned. He left a message.-> Tom phoned and he left a
message.
2.The name we give to 'joinning words' is conjunctions
These are conjunctions we use to make compound sentences
and, and then, but, for, nor, or, so, yet;
either ... or; neither ... nor ...; not only ... but ... (also/as well/ too).
3.We can use conjunctions to show, for example:
- addition (and): He washed the car and polished it.
- continuation (and then): He washed the car and then polished it.
- contrast (but/yet) She sold her house, but/yet (she) can't
help regretting it.
- choice (or): You can park your car on the driver or on
the road.
- result (so) He couldn't find his pen so he wrote in
pencil
- reason (for) We rarely stay in hotels for we can't afford
it
4. We do not usually put a comma in front of and,but we often use
one in front of other conjunctions:
He washed the car and polished it. (no comma before and)
Compare:
He washed the car, but didn't polish it. (comma before but)
5. We keep to basic order in a compound sentence:
subject verb object conjuntions subject verb compliment
jimmy fell off his bike , but (he) was unhurt.
6. When the subject is the same in all parts of the sentence, we do not
usually repeat it:
same subject:
Tom phoned. He left a message.-> Tom phoned and (he) left a
message
different subject:
Tom phoned. Frank answered.-> Tom phoned and Frank
answered.
7.We usually repeat the subject after so:
He couldn't find his pen so he wrote in pencil
8. We always have to repeat the subject after for. For is more
usually in the written language and we cannot use it to begin a
sentence:
We rarely stay in hotels for we can't afford it.
Write 1: Compound sentences with the same subject
Join the simple sentences to make compound sentences. Use the
words in brackets
1. I took the shoes back to the shop. I complained about them.
(and)
I took the shoes back to the shop and complained about them.
2.Your mother phoned this morning. She didn't leave a message.
(but)
3.I can leave now. I can stay for another hour.(I can either ... or)
4.Jim built his own house. He designed it himself (Jim not only ...
but ... as well)
5. I don't know what happen to him. I don't care. (I neither ...
nor)
6. My new assistant can type very well. He hasn't much experience
with computers. ̣(̣̣but)
Write 2: Compound sentences with different subjects and with
(̣̣so/for)
1. The taxi stopped at the station. Two men got out of it.(and)
The taxi stopped at the station and two men got out of it.
2. You can give me some advice. Your coleague can ( Either
you ... or )
3. We got ready to get on the train. It didn't stop. (but)
4. No one was in when we called. We left a message. (so)
5. We didn't want to get home late after the film. We went
straight back. (so)
6. The old lady was nervous. She wasn't use to strangers calling
late at night. (for)
7. I've always wanted to live in the country. My parents prefer
to live in town. (but)
8. The letter has been lost. The postman has delivered it to the
wrong adress. (or)
9. For a moment the top of the mountain was visible. A cloud
covered it. (and then)
10. Jane was a successful career woman. Her mother wanted her
to be a housewife. (but)
1.48 Context
Write: put a circle round the correct word in bracket
(NOT SO) MERRY-GO-ROUND!
The customers at the funfair were leaving (1 and/but) the lights were
going out. The last two people on the doggem cars paid (2 and/so)
left. The big wheel stopped (3 for/and) the merry-go-round stopped
(4 as well/not only). The stall close down (5 so/and) the stall-owners
went home. At 2 a.m. four nightwatchmen walked round the funfair
(6 but/so) there was no one to be seen. 'I'm fed up walking round'
one of them said, ('7 yet/and) what can we do?' 'We can (8 or/either)
play cards(9 either or) sit and talk'. They were bored, (10 so/for)
there was nothing to do in the quiet warm night. 'We can have a ride
on the merry-go-round!' One of them cried. 'That'll be fun!' There of
them jumpped on merry-go-round horses (11 yet/and)the fourth started
the motor. Then he jumped on to (12 and/but) round they went. They
were having the time of their lives, (13 but/so) suddenly realized there
was no one to stop the machine. They weren't rescued till morning (14
and/but) by then they felt very sick indeed!
