Combining, Expanding, and Reducing Sentences Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.5.3.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Sentences are the foundation upon which any written work is built upon. When we feel like a work is completed, it is often common place to evaluate each and every sentence that was written and make a series of various adjustments. This can come in the form of putting sentences together, taking them a step or two forward, or removing parts of it completely. A complete cadre of worksheets can be found on this page that will help students learn how to adjust sentences to a level that they feel makes it appropriate for their readers. We show students a variety of techniques that can be used in many different situations.

Combining, Expanding, and Reducing Worksheets:

Tornado! - This a whirlwind of an activity for students that are seeing it for the first time. In the paragraph below, either the subject or the predicate are repeated in various sentences. Combine each set of repetitive sentences to make one longer sentence without repetitive words. Write the new paragraph on the lines below.

Marco Polo: Out of the Pool! - Make one sentence from two. Sometimes less is more! Work on framing a single clear thought.

Expanding Sentences - The sentences that are given are weak. Make them stronger by adding adjectives and adverbs or entire phrases.

Combining Sentences - Aaron has lots of ideas, but nothing done. Help him bring his thoughts to life.

Expanding Sentences 2 - This is what you see after your teacher grades your paper. Use the hints in parentheses to add detail and expand the sentences below.

Harvey - Combine the subjects or predicates of each pair to create a single sentence without repetition. Use the back of this page for more room.

At the Office - Combine and expand upon the sets of sentences below. This one is really fun.

Slimming Down Sentences - Turn the run-on sentences on the left into shorter, more concise sentences.

Expansion Project - The town of Perryville is expanding. Help them to grow by expanding these sentences from their travel brochure.

Sentence Repair - Correct the following run-on sentences. Here are some ways to achieve this: Separate clauses using punctuation. Separate clauses using a conjunction. Rearrange the sentence (you may add or remove words).

Make Molehills Out of a Mountain - Reduce adjective and adverb clauses, use punctuation or conjunctions, divide or rearrange the sentences as necessary.

Expanding Sentences 3 - Expand each sentence below by choosing one of the techniques from the box. Use the color code provided to color the hammer in front of each sentence to indicate which technique you used.

Expanding Sentences Beyond - Expand the sentence below in a different way according to each hint.

Reverse-Engineering Sentences - Underline any part of the sentence that you feel is Dickens expanding upon the single, complete idea the sentence is intended to convey.

Reducing Sentences - Reduce the following adjective or adverb clauses. Rewrite the sentence on the line.

Combining, Expanding, and Reducing Sentences


Combing, reducing, and expanding sentences is something everyone does in their daily life and without even being quite aware of it. In the spoken discourse, these alterations in statements are brought about fairly easily as there are no specific rules to be followed as such. However, when it comes to reducing, combining, and expanding sentences in written form, especially in academic and formal writing, one has to be very careful in whatever he or she does. These alterations in written form are governed by some specific rules that should be followed if one wants to achieve the status of a flawless writer with full grip on the language.


Here are a few ways that are used for each of these processes in an attempt to achieve a flawless written piece:


Rules for Combining Sentences


Multiple sentences with a single subject and shorter length are usually combined in written form to make the written piece smoothly readable. This combining of sentences can be brought about by adding a conjunction to join the sentences with the same noun. After combining, one sentence is transformed into an independent clause while the other becomes a dependent clause followed by a conjunction. Sometimes, a single ‘and' can do the job of combining the sentences too.


Rules for Expanding Sentences


Sentences can be expanded to make the writing detailed and add in more details. Expansion can be done by adding adjectives, conjunctions, more clauses, and other minor details.


Rules for Reducing Sentences


Brevity is the soul of wit and this brevity is sometimes required to make a written piece easier to understand. There are a lot of ways to reduce sentences without losing the information in them. One can do this by nominalization, reducing word count, or by simply changing the sentence's structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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