Practice Exercises on Joining of Sentences

Joining of sentences or synthesis is an important grammar item for any high school English grammar test. Solve the following joining exercises to get some practice.

Exercise 1: Join using a Participle

1. She was tired after the journey. She went straight to bed.
2. He had saved enough money. He bought a new phone.
3. The students finished the test. They handed in their papers.
4. The teacher walked into the class. She saw the students quarrelling.
5. He was frightened by the noise. He ran out of the room.

Exercise 2: Join using an Infinitive

1. He is very short. He cannot reach the shelf.
2. She wants a quiet room. She can study in it.
3. They left early. They wanted to catch the first bus.
4. The tea is very hot. I cannot drink it.
5. She is quite old. She can travel alone.

Exercise 3: Join using a Relative Pronoun

1. The woman called the police. She saw the thief.
2. I have lost the book. You gave it to me.
3. He has a dog. Its eyes are blue.
4. This is the village. She spent her childhood there.
5. I remember the morning. We left for Shimla then.

Exercise 4: Join using the given instruction

1. She was very shy. She could not speak in public. (Use: too…to)
2. The bell rang. The students ran out. (Use: No sooner…than)
3. He is hardworking. He is also talented. (Use: Not only…but also)
4. Work hard. Do not fail. (Use: lest)
5. The sun set. The birds flew to their nests. (Use: Nominative Absolute)
6. It was a terrible storm. The trees were uprooted. (Use: Such…that)
7. She was tired. She still completed the project. (Use: Despite)
8. He did not apologise. He left the room. (Use: Without + gerund)

Exercise 5: Mixed — Join in any suitable way

1. She is a great singer. She performed last night.
2. The price was very high. Nobody could buy it.
3. He confessed his mistake. Everyone was surprised.
4. He practises daily. He wants to be a champion.
5. The rain stopped. We went for a walk.
6. She studied medicine. She wanted to help the sick.
7. He is very arrogant. Nobody likes him.
8. The fire broke out. The children were sleeping.

Answer Key

Exercise 1 (Participle):

1. Tired after the journey, she went straight to bed.
2. Having saved enough money, he bought a new phone.
3. Having finished the test, the students handed in their papers.
4. Walking into the class, the teacher saw the students quarrelling.
5. Frightened by the noise, he ran out of the room.

Exercise 2 (Infinitive):

1. He is too short to reach the shelf.
2. She wants a quiet room to study in.
3. They left early to catch the first bus.
4. The tea is too hot to drink.
5. She is old enough to travel alone.

Exercise 3 (Relative Pronoun):

1. The woman who saw the thief called the police.
2. I have lost the book which you gave me.
3. He has a dog whose eyes are blue.
4. This is the village where she spent her childhood.
5. I remember the morning when we left for Shimla.

Exercise 4 (As directed):

1. She was too shy to speak in public.
2. No sooner had the bell rung than the students ran out.
3. He is not only hardworking but also talented.
4. Work hard lest you should fail.
5. The sun having set, the birds flew to their nests.
6. It was such a terrible storm that the trees were uprooted.
7. Despite being tired, she completed the project.
8. He left the room without apologising.

Exercise 5 (Mixed):

1. She is a great singer who performed last night.
2. The price was too high for anyone to buy it.
3. His confessing the mistake surprised everyone. / It surprised everyone that he confessed his mistake.
4. He practises daily to become a champion.
5. The rain having stopped, we went for a walk.
6. She studied medicine to help the sick.
7. He is so arrogant that nobody likes him.
8. The fire broke out while the children were sleeping.