Three ways to combine sentences involve combining and compounding. Combining sentences consist of adding two simple sentences together. Simple sentences usually have a subject-verb-complete thought. Anna went to the concert. Anna went to the concert to see Mike's band. When combining the sentences you write: Anna went to the concert to see Mike's band. Although the sentences can stand alone, they sound better together. Compounding sentences refers to combining sentences with two or more clauses. You can compound sentences which consist of a dependent and independent clauses. "James studied hard for the test" is an independent clause because it can stand alone. A dependent clause such as "because Professor Dent asks tough questions" can't stand alone because it's a fragment. You can combine the independent and dependent clauses to form "James studied hard for the test because Professor Dent asks tough questions". Another way of compounding sentences is adding two independent clauses in one sentence.
Using present or past tenses are two options when combining sentences. You can turn past tense sentences into a present tense sentence. The woman counted the cans twice. The woman wished the clerk a good day. When combined, the sentences become "After counting the cans twice, the woman wished the clerk a good day." You can combine present tense sentences into past tense to combine them. You can also add word to the sentence to combine them. Andy went to the store. Andy was late. Thus, the sentences become "Andy went to the store because he was late".
Prepositional phrases allow you to combine two sentences using additional words. Prepositional phrase include and, but, between, as far as. The sentence "The pizzeria should deliver, but it doesn't" is an example of combining two sentences. Another method of combining sentences involves using an absolute phrase. To use this method, you must place a phrase at the beginning of a sentence and then a noun. At the end of the sentence is a participle. An example of an absolute phrase is "Sharon's million dollar contract guaranteed by brilliant ideas, she disappointed the publisher with her grammatical errors."
Another way of combining sentences is using appositive. Appositive, also referred to appositive phrase involves re-identifying and renaming information in earlier part of the text. When combining sentences, make sure you don't turn them into passive sentences or use any form of "to be". You don't want to ruin the sentence.