GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS Sentence Structure: Methods of Joining Related Ideas
Remember this is only a partial list. Many other phrases may be used in addition to the transitions and subordinators listed here. Note that English does not have any subordinators to add an additional or similar idea. The following examples show how different types of words that join related ideas can be used.
Although the three statements above have basically the same meaning, they are slightly different in emphasis. Coordinators and subordinators keep ideas closely related, within a single sentence. Using a subordinator also allows you to emphasize the relationship since a subordinator can occur at the beginning of a statement. A transition, on the other hand, creates a more dramatic effect since it begins a new sentence and is followed by a pause (indicated by the comma). For more information on the rules for punctuating clauses using coordinators, subordinators, and transitions see handouts on Transitions and Connecting Clauses. **Exercise: Here are three sets of related ideas taken from a student's paragraph. In the space provided, try joining each pair of sentences using all three methods discussed above. First decide which relationship exists between the two ideas. Then use the chart to help you select an appropriate coordinator, subordinator, and transition. 1. Anthropological research has shown that human behavior is very diverse. Human habits can vary endlessly. Combined with a coordinator: Combined with a subordinator: Linked with a transition: 2.Most animals reveal the same patterns of behavior within any given species. The human species has very few patterns that are shared by all people. Combined with a coordinator: Combined with a subordinator: Linked with a transition: 3.All humans have similar physical and mental structures. One might expect all human behavior to be similar. Combined with a coordinator: Combined with a subordinator: Linked with a transition:
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