Sentence Skills: Combine and Reduce

Which of the following sentences is the best combination of the two sentences: "The cat sat on the mat. The mat was red."?

• The cat sat on the mat, and it was red.

• The cat sat on the red mat.

• The red mat was sat on by the cat.

• The mat was red, and the cat sat on it.

Choose the best way to reduce the sentence: "The boy who was very tired went to bed early."

• The tired boy went to bed early.

• The boy went to bed early because he was tired.

• The boy went to bed early, and he was tired.

• The boy, who was tired, went to bed early.

Which sentence is the best reduction of: "The girl who was wearing a blue dress sang beautifully at the concert"?

• The girl sang beautifully at the concert in a blue dress.

• The girl in a blue dress sang beautifully at the concert.

• The girl sang beautifully at the concert, and she wore a blue dress.

• The girl, who sang beautifully, wore a blue dress at the concert.

Choose the best way to reduce the sentence: "The car that was red sped down the highway."

• The red car sped down the highway.

• The car sped down the highway, and it was red.

• The car, which was red, sped down the highway.

• The car sped down the highway because it was red.

Which sentence is the best reduction of: "The teacher who was very kind helped the students with their homework"?

• The kind teacher helped the students with their homework.

• The teacher helped the students with their homework because she was kind.

• The teacher, who was kind, helped the students with their homework.

• The teacher helped the students with their homework, and she was kind.

Combine these sentences: "The wind howled. The trees swayed."

• The wind howled, and the trees swayed.

• The trees swayed because the wind howled.

• The wind howled, making the trees sway.

• The trees swayed when the wind howled.

Choose the best way to reduce the sentence: "The book that was on the table was very interesting."

• The book on the table was very interesting.

• The book was very interesting, and it was on the table.

• The book, which was on the table, was very interesting.

• The book was on the table because it was very interesting.

Combine the following sentences: "The stars twinkled. The night was clear."

• The stars twinkled, and the night was clear.

• The night was clear because the stars twinkled.

• The stars twinkled in the clear night.

• The night was clear when the stars twinkled.

Which sentence is the best reduction of: "The man who was wearing a hat walked down the street"?

• The man walked down the street wearing a hat.

• The man in a hat walked down the street.

• The man walked down the street, and he was wearing a hat.

• The man, who was wearing a hat, walked down the street.

Combine these sentences: "The fire burned brightly. The room was warm."

• The fire burned brightly, and the room was warm.

• The room was warm because the fire burned brightly.

• The fire burned brightly, warming the room.

• The room was warm when the fire burned brightly.