SAT Writing: Combining Sentences

You'll typically get two questions that ask you to choose the best way of combining two
sentences. Below are examples of the most common ways of doing so. Of course, the best
strategy will depend on the sentences you're working with. You've seen a lot of these before
in previous chapters.

1. Use a trailing phrase

This method is by far the most commonly tested.

Example 1

Before: To get the gun-control law passed, the President pointed out the numerous shootings that
happen every year. He illustrated the dangers of having few restrictions.

After: To get the gun-control law passed, the President pointed out the numerous shootings that
happen every year, illustrating the dangers of having few restrictions.

Example 2

Before: Students often see the complex theorems of physics as useless and tiresome. They don't know
that every piece of modern technology is founded on the discoveries of quantum physics.

After: Students often see the complex theorems of physics as useless and tiresome, not knowing
that every piece of modern technology is founded on the discoveries of quantum physics.

Example 3

Before: The monkey was tied down because other animals were distracted by its eating habits. It was
not because of its tendency to escape.

After: The monkey was tied down because other animals were distracted by its eating habits, not
because of its tendency to escape.

Example 4

Before: Inside the dusty cabinet was a map of the Underground Railroad. It was a network of
 underground tunnels slaves once used to escape from the South.

After: Inside the dusty cabinet was a map of the Underground Railroad, a network of underground
tunnels slaves once used to escape from the South.

2. Use a preposition

Example 5

Before: Joseph finished his homework. His teacher helped him.

After: Joseph finished his homework with the help of his teacher.

Example 6

Before: He is one of the fastest runners in the world. His accomplishments are demonstrated by his
numerous world records.

After: He is one of the fastest runners in the world as demonstrated by his numerous world
records.

3. Turn one of them into a dependent clause or modifier

Example 7

Before: Jacob has decided to avoid snacks and soda. The reason for the diet is that he wants to lose
weight.

After: Because he wants to lose weight, Jacob has decided to avoid snacks and soda.

Example 8

Before: The giant panda is the rarest bear in the world today. It has large, distinctive, black patches
around its eyes, strong jaw muscles, and a long tail.

After: The rarest bear in the world today, the giant panda has large, distinctive, black patches
 around its eyes, strong jaw muscles, and a long tail.

4. Use a conjunction

Example 9

Before: On the surface, Seinfeld is most famous for its light-hearted dialogue. Included among the
many episodes is an assortment of comments on racism, homosexuality, and death.

After: On the surface, Seinfeld is most famous for its light-hearted dialogue, but included among
the many episodes is an assortment of comments on racism, homosexuality, and death.

5. Link two verbs with and

Example 10

Before: The people sitting in front of me on the train were talking throughout the ride. They would
not turn their cell phones off even after being told to do so.

After: The people sitting in front of me on the train were talking throughout the ride and would not
turn their cell phones off even after being told to do so.

6. Use a relative clause / inserting non-restrictive clause

Example 11

Before: John Durgin worked as an accountant for ten years and then became a math teacher. He first
learned to calculate in his head by reciting multiplication tables at home.

After: John Durgin, who worked as an accountant for ten years and then became a math
teacher, first learned to calculate in his head by reciting multiplication tables at home.

Example 12

Before: Every car is powered by an engine. The engine converts fuel and heat into mechanical
 motion.

After: Every car is powered by an engine, which converts fuel and heat into mechanical motion.

7. Use an infinitive to express purpose

Example 13

Before: The little boy happily ran home. He would tell his mom he had found the last golden ticket.

After: The little boy happily ran home to tell his mom he had found the last golden ticket.

Here are some tips and guidelines:

1. The fewer pronouns, the better (especially this, these, they, it)

Note the pronoun it in the following example.

Example 14

The arctic owl's coat of snow-white feathers acts as camouflage. It keeps the owl hidden by blending the
animal in with its surroundings.

A) NO CHANGE
B) camouflage, and it keeps
C) camouflage; it keeps
D) camouflage, keeping

Answer D is the best because it avoids using the unnecessary pronoun it.

Nearly all the examples in the strategy section above involve unnecessary pronouns.

2. Keep the intended meaning

Don't combine sentences in such a way that the intended meaning is altered.

Example 15

Chinese families get ready for Mid-Autumn Festival by doing several things. They light lanterns, prepare
mooncakes, and arrange flowers.

A) NO CHANGE
B) Chinese families get ready for Mid-Autumn Festival to light lanterns, prepare mooncakes, and arrange
flowers.
C) Chinese families get ready for Mid-Autumn Festival by lighting lanterns, preparing mooncakes, and
arranging flowers.
D) Chinese families get ready for Mid-Autumn Festival for lighting lanterns, preparing mooncakes, and
arranging flowers.

Notice how answers B and D change the intended meaning. Chinese families don't get ready for the Festival in
order to light lanterns, prepare mooncakes, and arrange flowers. That would be backwards. They get ready for
the Festival by lighting lanterns, preparing mooncakes, and arranging flowers. Those activities are HOW they
get ready, not WHY they get ready. The answer is C.

3. Avoid repeated words

Alarm bells should go off anytime you see repeated words.

Example 16

The restaurant was highly recommended by the food critics. These critics stayed there for four hours to savor
every dish.

A) NO CHANGE
B) critics, who
C) critics, and these critics
D) critics after the critics

The answer is B because it doesn't repeat critics.

4. The fewer words, the better

This is a general rule of thumb. More words imply complexity and when you're combining
sentences, you're trying to make things less complicated, not more.

Example 17

The new hardware runs at a faster rate when compared to the old one. This increased speed reduces costs in
our technology department, where we have the most overhead.

A) NO CHANGE
B) When compared to the old one, the new hardware runs at a faster rate, which reduces costs in our
technology department, where we have the most overhead.
C) The new hardware runs at a faster rate when compared to the old one, and this increased speed reduces
costs in our technology department, where we have the most overhead.
D) The new hardware runs at a faster rate when compared to the old one; by increasing the speed, we reduce
costs in our technology department, where we have the most overhead.

Answers A, C, and D are all wordy compared to answer B. The words increased speed are unnecessary and
should be cut out.
In general, the answer will usually involve the fewest number of words and the least amount
of effort, which means you should be eliminating words, not adding them. This is the over-
arching guideline that all the above guidelines fall under—take it to heart.
 1. Unique is better

The more things two answer choices have in common, the less likely either of those
choices is to be correct. Consider the following sample question:

Usually, Georgia’s climate becomes extremely dry during the fall and winter. This
follows several months of humid weather.

Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences at the underlined portion?
A) winter, following
B) summer, and this dry climate follows
C) summer, and such dry climate follows
D) summer, and this follows

Looking at the word choice, we can see that “B” and “C” are nearly identical. They are
also the longest, which brings us to our next rule.

2. Shorter is better
Now that we are suspicious of “B” and “D,” it’s time to apply our next rule. All things
being equal, a shorter answer choice is better than a longer one:

A) winter, following (two words)

B) summer, and this dry climate follows (six words)
C) summer, and such dry climate follows (six words)
D) summer, and this follows (four words)

“B” and “C” fail this check as well, so we can safely eliminate both of them. As “D” is the
longer of the two remaining, we should view it skeptically also.

3. Simpler is better
By “simple” we mean fewer independent clauses. Let’s see what kind of sentence “D”
would produce:

Usually, Georgia’s climate becomes extremely dry during the fall and winter, and this
follows several months of humid weather.

Choice “D” gives us two independent clauses. Let’s see if we can do better with choice
“A”:

Usually, Georgia’s climate becomes extremely dry during the fall and winter, following
following several months of humid weather.

“A” produces a grammatically correct sentence with one independent clause followed by
one dependent clause. It is also slightly shorter (18 vs. 19 words) than the sentence that
“D” would give us. Because we have followed the steps and double-checked the
grammar, we can be certain that “A” is the correct answer.
1. Water filters are designed to handle any tap water that flows through. They
eliminate the chlorine and bacteria growth that affect the taste of drinking water and
also cause infections in humans.
A) through; they can eliminate
B) through, which is eliminating
C) through, eliminating
D) through, so they eliminate
2. Many of the courses in law schools today are purely theoretical exercises. These
exercises have little to do with their initial purpose.
A) exercises that
B) exercises, so they
C) exercises; they
D) exercises, being so these
3. In addition to farming crops, slaves in Egypt during the rise of Mesopotamia had the
mundane tasks of cleaning the house. They also cooked the food.
A) house, but also cooked the food.
B) house and cooking the food.
C) house, and the food was cooked by them.
D) house and food being cooked.
4. Language opens the door to other perspectives. What’s given to us is the means  to
apprehend other ways of viewing our common world and our common humanity.

A) Language opens the door to other perspectives while giving to us the means
B) Language opens the door to other perspectives by giving us the means
C) By opening the door to other perspectives through language, we are given the
means
D) Although language opens the door to other perspectives, we are given the means
5.
6.
7.
8.
Today's restaurants' ordering systems maximize efficiency both in the kitchen and
behind the counter. Many of which have expanded their seating spaces to
accommodate the increasing number of customers.

A) Today's restaurants' ordering systems maximize efficiency both in the kitchen and
behind the counter; seating spaces have been expanded by them to accommodate
the increasing number of customers.

B) Ordering systems maximize efficiency both in the kitchen and behind the counter;
many restaurants have expanded their seating spaces in the accommodation of the
increasing number of customers.

C) Ordering systems maximizing efficiency both in the kitchen and behind the
counter are why many restaurants have expanded their seating spaces,
accommodating the increasing number of customers.

D) Today's restaurants, whose ordering systems maximize efficiency both in

the kitchen and behind the counter, have expanded their seating spaces to
accommodate the increasing number of customers.
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. D
 Q. 
3. What is the correct way to write sentences 8 and 9?
(8) In Africa they were prized by their owners. (9) Because of their hunting skills.
answer choices

In Africa they were prized by their owners because of their hunting skills.

Because of their hunting skills in Africa they were prized by their owners.

In Africa, they were prized by their owners because, of their hunting skills.

Their hunting skills, prized by their owners, were in Africa.

 
Q. 
4. What is the correct way to write sentences 7 and 8?
(7) Even though they are uncomfortable. (8) Safety goggles should be worn at all
times.
answer choices

Even though they are uncomfortable, safety goggles should be worn at all times.

Even though they are uncomfortable, but safety goggles should be worn at all times.

Even though they are uncomfortable, and safety goggles should be worn at all times.

Sentences 7 and 8 are correct.

Q. 
5. What is the most effective way to combine sentences 24 and 25? (24) He made
his way steadily down. (25) A grin began to spread over his face.
answer choices

Since he made his way steadily down with a grin, it began to spread over his face.

He made his way steadily down because a grin began to spread over his face.

As he made his way steadily down, a grin began to spread over his face.

He made his way steadily down a grin began to spread over his face.

  Question 6
 
Q. 
6. What is the BEST way to combine sentences 10 and 11? (10) Bill and Phil
became partners. (11) They started their own shoe business.
Bill and Phil became partners, they started their own shoe business.

Bill and Phil became partners when they started their own shoe business.

Bill and Phil became partners, so they started their own shoe business.

Bill and Phil became partners and then started their own shoe business.
  Question 7
Q. 
7. What is the correct way to write sentences 17 and 18? (17) All the attention
prompted Blare to create an organization. (18) Called Blare's Bears for Haiti.
answer choices

All the attention prompted Blare to create an organization. Which he called Blare's Bears for Haiti.

All the attention prompting Blare to ,create an organization called Blare's Bears for Haiti.

All the attention prompted Blare to create an organization, it was called Blare's Bears for Haiti.

All the attention prompted Blare to create an organization called Blare's Bears for Haiti.

  Question 8
Q. 
8. What is the correct way to write sentences 13 and 14? (13) If we had a rock-
climbing wall on our playground. (14) It could also be used for PE classes.
answer choices

If we had a rock-climbing wall on our playground, it could also be used for PE classes.

We could have a rock-climbing wall on our playground. Which could also be used for PE classes.

We could have a rock-climbing wall on our playground, it could also be used for PE classes.

The sentences are written correctly in the paper.


 Q. What is the correct way to write sentences 13 and 14? (13) If we had a rock-climbing
wall on our playground. (14) It could also be used for PE classes.
answer choices

If we had a rock-climbing wall on our playground, it could also be used for PE classes.

We could have a rock-climbing wall on our playground. Which could also be used for PE classes.

We could have a rock-climbing wall on our playground, it could also be used for PE classes.

The sentences are written correctly in the paper.

  Question 10
 
Q. What would be the best way to rewrite the ideas in sentence 7? (7) Like painting,
photos can be beautiful and meaningful images, just as paintings can be. 
answer choices

Photos can be beautiful and meaningful images, and paintings can be beautiful and meaningful
images, too.

Like paintings, photos can be beautiful and meaningful images.

Photos can be beautiful and meaningful images, and this is how they are just like paintings, too.
 Both of them can be beautiful and meaningful images.

  Question 11
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences into a Compound-Complex
sentence?

1) Josslyn was 10 minutes late.

2) She ran to class.
3) Her presentation was today.
answer choices

She ran to class, so Josslyn was 10 minutes late because her presentation was today.

Josslyn was 10 minutes late, so her presentation was today because she ran to class. 

Josslyn was 10 minutes late, so she ran to class because her presentation was today.

Her presentation was today, so Josslyn was 10 minutes late because she ran to class.

  Question 12
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences into a Compound sentence?
1) I have been summoned to a special meeting of the Council.
2) Something must have happened.
answer choices

I have been summoned to a special meeting of the Council something must have happened.

I have been summoned to a special meeting of the Council so something must have happened.

I have been summoned to a special meeting of the Council, so something must have
happened.

I have been summoned to a special meeting of the Council, something must have happened.

  Question 13
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences into a Compound sentence?
1) I can't seem to start my Christmas shopping early no matter what I try.
2) It is very frustrating. 
answer choices

I can't seem to start my Christmas shopping early no matter what I try. It is very frustrating. 

I can't seem to start my Christmas shopping early no matter what I try; it is very frustrating. 

I can't seem to start my Christmas shopping early no matter what I try and  is very frustrating.

I can't seem to start my Christmas shopping early no matter what I try, but it is very frustrating. 





  Question 14
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences using a List?
1) I have three favorite foods.
2) One is pizza.
3) One is steak.
4) One is brussel sprouts.
answer choices

My favorite foods are pizza and steak and brussel sprouts.

One of my favorite foods is pizza and the other favorite foods are steak and brussel sprouts.

Brussel sprouts, pizza, and steak.

My three favorite foods are pizza, steak, and brussel sprouts.

My three favorite foods: pizza, steak and ….

  Question 15
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences in a Complex sentence?
1) Even though they are uncomfortable.
2) Safety goggles should be worn at all times. 
answer choices

Even though they are uncomfortable, safety goggles should be worn at all times.

Even though they are uncomfortable, but safety goggles should be worn at all times.

Even though they are uncomfortable, and safety goggles should be worn at all times.

  Question 16
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences as a Complex sentence?
1) The tree branch fell on the roof. 
2) The roof was leaking.
3) We repaired the roof.
answer choices

After we repaired the roof the leak stopped.

The tree branch fell on the leaking roof.

The leaking roof needed to be repaired after the tree branch fell on it.

We repaired the roof after a falling branch caused it to leak.

  Question 17
 
Q. What is the best way to combine these sentences with an Appositive Phrase?
1) Orson Wells produced a radio play based on a story about an invasion from Mars. 
2) Orson Wells is a famous actor and film director. 
answer choices

Orson Wells, a famous actor and film director, produced a radio play based on a story about
an invasion from Mars. 

Orson Wells produced a radio play based on a story about an invasion from Mars, he is a famous
actor and film director.

Orson Wells produced a radio play based on a story about an invasion from Mars and Orson Wells
is a famous actor and film director. 

Orson Wells produced a radio play based on a story about an invasion from Mars. 
Orson Wells is a famous actor and film director.