Patterns

Punctuation Patterns

Use the following guide to help with sentence combining

  1. Aliens do exist.

  2. Aliens do exist; Mulder tries to prove it each week.

  3. Aliens do exist; therefore, Mulder tries to prove it.
    however
    nevertheless
    consequently
    furthermore
    moreover

  4. Aliens do exist, and Mulder tries to prove it each week.
    or
    but
    nor
    yet
    so
    for
    (then)

  5. Aliens, Mulder believes, do exist.
    of course
    on the other hand
    it seems
    who knows me well

  6. If aliens do exist, Mulder will prove it.

    Because
    Since
    When
    While
    Although
    After
    Even before

  7. Mulder will prove if aliens exist.

    because
    since
    when
    while
    after
    even though
    (although)

  8. Agent Sculley has many traits: compassion, insight, and a belief in science.

  9. "The Martians are coming," he said.
    He said, "The Martians are coming."
    "The Martians," he said, "are coming."
    "The Martians are coming," he said. "Let's go meet them."
    He asked, "Are the Martians coming?"
    Who said (that) the Martians are coming?
    Who said, "The Martians are coming"?

  1. Independent Clause.

  2. Independent clause; independent clause.

  3. independent clause; adverbial, independent clause.
    however
    nevertheless
    consequently
    furthermore
    moreover

  4. independent clause, conjunction independent clause.
    or
    but
    nor
    yet
    so
    for
    (then)

  5. independent, descriptive phrase, clause.
    of course
    on the other hand
    it seems
    who knows me well

  6. Subordinating conjunction dependent clause, independent clause.
    Because
    Since
    When
    While
    Although
    After
    Even before

  7. independent clause subordinating conjunction dependent clause.
    because
    since
    when
    while
    after
    even though
    (although)

  8. independent clause: series or idea that follows.
  9. "Direct Quotation," person speaking.
    Person speaking, "Direct quotation."
    "Beginning of clause," person speaking, "end of clause."
    "First clause," he said. "Second clause."
    He asked, "Direct question?"
    Who said (that) indirect question?
    Who said, "Question about the statement being quoted"?
    Who said, "The Martians are coming"?
adapted from Virginia Underwood and Merrie Llyn Kett, College Writing Skills
(Columbus: Charles E. Merrill, 1981), p. 207

 
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Last revised: November 19, 2009 by Jan Strever -- jstrever@scc.spokane.edu
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