COHESIVE DEVICES EXERCISE Join the two sentences to make ONE sentence, using AND, SO, BECAUSE, BUT

or OR. 1. I could not go out last night. I was too busy. Answer: I could not go out last night because I was too busy. 2. I could not go with my friend. My friend went without me. Answer: I could not go with my friend so he went without me. 3. My friend went to the cinema to see a film. The film wasn't very good. Answer: My friend went to the cinema to see a film but the film wasnt very good. 4. The cinema was full of people. They were all smoking. Answer: The cinema was full of people and they were all smoking. 5. I like people. I don't like smoke. Answer: I like people but I don't like smoke. 6. Do you want an orange juice? Do you want a beer? Answer: Do you want an orange juice or a beer? 7. It was my birthday. He didn't send me a card. Answer: It was my birthday but he didn't send me a card. 8. I didn't write to him. He didn't write to me. Answer: I didn't write to him so he didn't write to me.

Explanation of ellipsis It is often possible to abbreviate the second of two co-ordinating clauses by omitting the subject and the auxiliary verb (if there is one). For example the sentence: By nine oclock, he had finished his work and he had gone home.

Can be abbreviated to By nine oclock, he had finished his work and gone home. This can only be done if both clauses have the same subject. The second clause in the sentence He had finished the work and his assistant had gone home cannot be abbreviated because it does not have the same subject as the first clause. Commas are often used to separate co-ordinate clauses, especially if they are long, but commas are not used if the second clause is ellipted.

Exercise on ellipsis Use ellipsis to abbreviate the second clause in the following sentences. In one of the sentences ellipsis is not possible. (1) Pete looked for a long time, but he never found the money. Pete looked for a long time, but never found the money. (2) Nancy broke her leg and she injured her elbow. Nancy broke her leg and injured her elbow. (3) At that time, Tom was working in a restaurant at night, and he was going to school during the day. At the time, Tom was working in a restaurant at night and going to school during the day.

(4) Recently Fred has been listening to a lot of music, but he has not been reading much. Recently Fred has been listening to a lot of music but not reading much. (5) Before her accident, Martha had been swimming on Saturday mornings, or she had been running in the park. Before her accident, Martha had been swimming on Saturday mornings or running in the park. (6) Harrys room has been cleaned and it has been painted too. Harrys room has been cleaned and painted too. (7) Jill went to jail but her husband went into the hospital. Jill went to jail but her husband into the hospital. (8) Norah had cooked supper, and she had put on her new dress by the time her boyfriend arrived. Norah had cooked supper, and put on her new dress by the time her boyfriend arrived. (9) Sometimes Fred sent his boss an email and sometimes he phoned him. Sometimes Fred sent his boss an email and phoned him. (10) Jacks customers were waiting at his door and they were getting impatient. Jacks customers were waiting at his door and getting impatient.