Composing Sentences
Sentence combining calls on you to experiment with different ways of building sentences and organizing paragraphs. A detailed knowledge of formal grammar is not required to complete these exercises. Regular practice in sentence combining should help you to develop a writing style that is both correct and effective.
What Is Sentence Combining and How Does It Work?
Find out about sentence combining--a friendly (and generally more effective) alternative to traditional grammar instruction. Then begin developing your sentence-combining skills here at About.com Grammar & Composition.
Basic Sentence Structures
One of the keys to good writing is understanding the countless ways in which basic sentence structures can be combined and arranged. Let's begin, then, by identifying those basic sentence structures and considering how to use them effectively.
Sentence Structures and Styles
Enjoy this sampler of sentence structures and styles, and then visit the complete collection in our Scrapbook of Styles.
Exercise in Identifying Sentences by Function
This exercise will give you practice in identifying the four functional types of sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.
Exercise in Identifying Sentences by Structure
This exercise will give you practice in identifying four basic sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
Sentence-Imitation Exercise: Compound Sentences
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in connecting two or more independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions.
Sentence-Imitation Exercise: Complex Sentences
This sentence-imitation exercise will give you practice in connecting independent clauses with dependent clauses using subordinating conjunctions.
Exercise in Using Specific Descriptive Details in Sentences
This exercise will give you practice in using specific descriptive details to create a vivid impression of a particular place.
Writing Prompts for Paragraphs
Use the following topic sentences as prompts to help you discover fresh images, examples, and narrative details.
Exercise in Adding and Arranging Participial Phrases
This exercise will give practice in avoiding misplaced modifiers as you apply the principles introduced in Creating and Arranging Participial Phrases.
Introduction to Sentence Combining
An introduction to the basic principles and methods of sentence combining.
Exercise in Writing With Specific Details
Specific details create word pictures that can make your writing easier to understand and more interesting to read. This exercise will give you practice in revising sentences to make them more concrete and specific.