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To help create sentence variety in your writing, use your sentence joining chart.
Your sentence joining chart
will help you use
coordinating conjunctions to create compound sentences,
transitional expressions to create a different type of compound sentences,
and subordinating conjunctions to help create complex sentences.
Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions used to make compound sentences.
Notice in these compound sentences
that a comma comes after the first independent clause,
and a coordinating conjunction comes before
the second independent clause.
Here are some examples of transitional expressions
used to create compound sentences.
Notice that in each of these compound sentences,
the semi-colon comes after the first independent clause.
For example
After the semi-colon comes a transitional expression
followed by a comma.
Each of these sentences ends with an independent clause
such as
Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions
being used to create complex sentences.
Notice that when a sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction,
a comma comes after the entire dependent clause,
and an independent clause follows the comma.
On the other hand,
when a complex sentence begins with an independent clause,
it is followed directly by the subordinating conjunction
and the rest of the dependent clause.
Notice that the words and phrases in each vertical column
on your sentence joining chart
have similar purposes even if they are not used
in the same types of sentences.
There are coordinating conjunctions and transitional expressions
that add or join;
there are coordinating conjunctions, transitional expressions, and subordinating conjunctions
that show contrast or alternative;
there are transitional expressions and subordinating conjunctions
that show time or sequence;
and there are coordinating conjunctions, transitional expressions, and subordinating conjunctions
that show cause or effect.
Let's take a closer look at words and phrases on the sentence joining chart
that share a common purpose.
Let's first look at words and phrases
that add or join ideas together,
highlighting the words and phrases that are most commonly used:
these include
and, in addition, additionally, and also.
The sentence
can be written in this format:
or
or
You see here that you have a variety of ways
of saying the same thing.
Note that these ideas
can be expressed in a simple sentence:
This is a simple sentence
because it consists of just an independent clause.
Now, let's look at words and phrases
that show contrast,
highlighting the words and phrases
that are most commonly used.
These include
but, yet, however, nevertheless, although, and even though.
Here, the coordinating conjunction but can be replaced with the coordinating conjunction yet.
Using a transitional expression,
the same ideas can be expressed
as in the sentence
The transitional expression however can be replaced by the transitional expression nevertheless
to convey the same meaning.
Finally, these ideas can be expressed in a complex sentence:
Notice in this sentence that the dependent clause
comes before the independent clause.
Remember that if a complex sentence begins with a dependent clause,
a comma needs to come after the dependent clause.
However, if a complex sentence begins with an independent clause,
no comma is needed, as in the sentence
The subordinating conjunction although
can be replaced by the subordinating conjunction even though
and the sentence will mean the same thing.
Remember that the coordinating conjunctions yet and but,
the transitional expressions nevertheless and however,
and the subordinating conjunctions even though and although
have the same purposes
although they are used in different types of sentences.
Now let's take a look at some transitional expressions and subordinating conjunctions
that show time or sequence
highlighting a few that are most frequently used:
These first two sentences
are compound sentences using transitional expressions.
Notice how the independent clauses are switched
between the first sentence and the second sentence.
Now, let's look at some complex sentences.
Remember that if you begin a complex sentence
with a dependent clause,
a comma comes right after the entire dependent clause,
but if you begin a complex sentence with an independent clause,
you do not need a comma.
All of these sentences,
whether the ideas are joined by transitional expressions
or subordinating conjunctions,
mean essentially the same thing.
Let's look at the words meanwhile and while.
When you use the word meanwhile,
the independent clauses can be switched around.
When you use the word while
in a complex sentence to show that two actions occur at the same time,
the two ideas can be switched around.
As always, a complex sentence can begin with a dependent clause
or an independent clause.
Let's look at the words eventually and until.
Now, let's take a look at the transitional expression at that moment
and the word when.
Finally, let's look at coordinating conjunctions, transitional expressions, and subordinating conjunctions
that show cause or effect.
First, we examine words that show cause:
You will notice that there are no transitional expressions that show cause.
These sentences mean the same thing.
The coordinating conjunction for
and the subordinating conjunction since
both show cause.
However, the first sentence is a compound sentence and needs a comma.
The second sentence is a complex sentence that begins with an independent clause;
therefore, it does not need a comma.
In the second sentence,
the subordinating conjunction because can replace
the subordinating conjunction since.
As always, the dependent clause can come before the independent clause
as in
In this case, a comma will separate the dependent clause from the independent clause.
Other subordinating conjunctions can be used
to create sentences with similar meanings.
You can use the subordinating conjunction unless
to create a sentence with a slightly different meaning.
or
Now, we'll look at coordinating conjunctions, transitional expressions, and subordinating conjunctions
that show effect:
You'll notice that while none of the transitional expressions show cause,
they all show effect.
The transitional expression therefore
can be replaced by the transitional expression
consequently,
thus,
as a result,
for this reason,
hence,
or ultimately.
The same ideas can be expressed using the subordinating conjunction so that
as in the sentence
or
Once again, you will see that the same ideas can be expressed
in a variety of ways:
with a coordinating conjunction,
with a transitional expression,
with a subordinating conjunction.
A sentence with a slightly different meaning can be created with the coordinating conjunction or.
Use your sentence joing chart and what you have learned from watching this video
to complete the following assignment.
Bring the completed assignment to next class.