Synthesis: combining sentences
Combine two or more sentences into one smooth, correct sentence.
Synthesis is the opposite of taking a sentence apart. Using participles, infinitives, relative pronouns and conjunctions you already know, you will join short sentences into one smooth sentence.
Synthesis is combining two or more simple sentences into one new sentence that keeps all of their meaning.
Examples
- The tailor was busy. He could not take my order. → Being busy, the tailor could not take my order.
- Vani saved money. She wanted to buy a laptop. → Vani saved money to buy a laptop.
- Mr Bose is my landlord. He is a retired judge. → Mr Bose, a retired judge, is my landlord.
- I have a friend. His father is a pilot. → I have a friend whose father is a pilot.
- The batsman was injured. He continued to play. → Although the batsman was injured, he continued to play.
How it works
Participle phrase
Turn one sentence into a participle phrase. Use the present participle for actions at the same time and having + past participle for an action finished first. The phrase must refer to the subject of the main clause.
Having locked the door, Ritu left for work.
Infinitive or preposition + gerund
An infinitive shows purpose. A preposition followed by an -ing word shows cause, manner or time.
She was praised for helping the old man.
Appositive or relative pronoun
If one sentence simply identifies a noun, make it an appositive between commas. If it adds a fuller detail, use who, which, whose or that.
The temple which we visited is a thousand years old.
Conjunctions
Choose the conjunction that matches the link: and, but, so for equal ideas; because, although, when, if for dependent ones; and pairs such as not only…but also for emphasis.
Not only did he apologise, but he also paid for the damage.
Quick reference
| Tool | Separate sentences | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Present participle | He opened the box. He found a key. | Opening the box, he found a key. |
| Perfect participle | She wrote the letter. She posted it. | Having written the letter, she posted it. |
| Infinitive | I went to the bank. I wanted to withdraw cash. | I went to the bank to withdraw cash. |
| Preposition + gerund | He left. He did not say goodbye. | He left without saying goodbye. |
| Appositive | Dr Iyer is a dentist. She treated me. | Dr Iyer, a dentist, treated me. |
| Relative pronoun | This is the pen. I lost it. | This is the pen that I lost. |
| Conjunction | It was late. We kept talking. | Though it was late, we kept talking. |
Common mistakes
✕Walking to work, the rain started.
✓As I was walking to work, the rain started.
A participle phrase must refer to the subject, and the rain was not walking.
✕This is the book which I bought it.
✓This is the book which I bought.
Which already stands for the object, so it must go.
✕Having finish the race, he collapsed.
✓Having finished the race, he collapsed.
Having must be followed by the past participle.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Choose the word that combines the sentences.
The man drives a taxi. He is my uncle. → The man ___ drives a taxi is my uncle. (who / which / whose)
✓The man drives a taxi. He is my uncle. → The man who drives a taxi is my uncle.
Who refers to a person and acts as the subject of drives.
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