CHAPTER 7 Building Better Sentences^161
Using the word therefore can make an even stronger connection. However, with any
of the longer conjunctions, a semicolon precedes the word and a comma follows it:
Our children are unusually good at sports; therefore, we’ve decided to send
them to a sports day camp this summer.Later you will learn much more about the role of punctuation in combining sentences.
Now look for a connection between the following two thoughts:
Eden gave us too many alternatives. It confused us.If you simply add the word and, you successfully bring the two thoughts together.
Eden gave us too many alternatives, and it confused us.NOTE: Whenever you’ve written a sentence that begins with it (e.g., It confused us.) ,
look again. That sentence can undoubtedly join the previous one.
One more example:
I paid for the car. Jan does nothing but complain about it.Choose a conjunction that shows a contrast between the generosity of the person in
the fi rst sentence and the lack of appreciation of the person in the second sentence.
I paid for the car, yet Jan does nothing but complain about it.Written Practice 7-4
For each of the following items, choose a coordinating conjunction from the
previous list to connect the sentences.
- We want to buy shoes on sale. The sale will last just this week.
- The homebuilder hoped to attract buyers from the area. He advertised the
new homes in the local paper.