STAAR Combine Sentences

Which is the best way to combine sentences 7 and 8?

• He didn’t see any that he liked because he talked with his grandmother.

• He didn’t see any that he liked, even though he talked with his grandmother.

• He didn’t see any that he liked, so he talked with his grandmother.

• He didn’t see any that he liked when he talked with his grandmother.

Which answer seems to have done a good job of combining two sentences?

• The students did a great job. At the choir concert.

• The students did a great job, and at the choir concert.

• The students did a great job at the choir concert.

• The choir concert did a great job, the students did it.

What is the correct way to combine the sentences above?

• It connects your brain to your spinal cord, this connects to most of the nerves in your body.

• Connecting your brain to your spinal cord and then to most of the nerves in your body.

• Connecting your brain to your spinal cord. It connects to most of the nerves in your body.

• It connects your brain to your spinal cord, which connects to most of the nerves in your body.

Combine the following sentences into a compound sentence: 'The sun was shining. The birds were singing.'

• The sun was shining but the birds were singing.

• The sun was shining, the birds were singing.

• The sun was shining so the birds were singing.

• The sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Explain the difference between a compound sentence and a complex sentence.

• A compound sentence has only one clause, while a complex sentence has multiple clauses.

• A compound sentence has multiple independent clauses, while a complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• A compound sentence is always shorter than a complex sentence.

• A compound sentence contains only dependent clauses, while a complex sentence contains only independent clauses.

Can a comma be used alone to join two independent clauses? Why or why not?

• Yes, a comma can be used alone to join two independent clauses.

• A comma can be used with a semicolon to join two independent clauses.

• Using a comma alone between independent clauses is a common practice.

• No, a comma cannot be used alone to join two independent clauses.

Rewrite the following sentences into a compound sentence using a coordinating conjunction: 'I like to play soccer. My brother prefers basketball.'

• I like to play soccer, however my brother prefers basketball.

• I like to play soccer, and my brother prefers basketball.

• I like to play soccer, but my brother prefers basketball.

• I like to play soccer, so my brother prefers basketball.

What is the purpose of using coordinating conjunctions in writing?

• To introduce a list of items in a sentence

• To emphasize the main idea of a sentence

• To connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance in a sentence.

• To separate words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence

The goldfish are beautiful. The blue fish is my favorite.

(Please combine the two sentences.)

• The goldfish are beautiful and the blue fish is my favorite.

• The goldfish is beautiful, so the blue fish is my favorite.

• The goldfish are beautiful, but the blue fish is my favorite.

Which sentence correctly combines the following? 'The cat slept on the mat. The dog lay beside it.'

• A) The cat slept on the mat, and the dog lay beside it.

• B) The cat slept on the mat, the dog lay beside it.

• C) The cat slept on the mat but the dog lay beside it.

• D) The cat slept on the mat; the dog lay beside it.