The document provides examples of alternative ways to join sentences without using "if", such as using "had" or "should" instead. It then gives tasks for the reader to rewrite sentences replacing "if" with one of the alternatives. Another section discusses using participles like "having" and "-ing" to combine sentences. It provides examples and tasks for the reader to practice this technique. Finally, it discusses replacing boring conjunctions like "and" and "but" with less common ones to make writing more varied.

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2. JOINING SENTENCES ALTERNATIVES TO “IF”
LOOK AT THESE
Here are some sentences from recent newspapers:
1) Had the politician been offered a job, he would have accepted it.
2) Had Jessica Smith not divorced Lord Timpson two years ago, she
would now be Lady Timpson.
3) Should any of our readers be able to help, they can write to this
address.
The writers of theses sentences have chosen to avoid using “if.” Can
you prove this by re-writing each one using “if”? There is nothing
wrong with “if” but you might want a change or to show that you can
handle this construction.
Notice:
“had” will be used if it is in the past.
“should” will be used for the present or future.
TASK
Change these sentences, reworking them to remove “if.” Use the
ones above as examples. Some help is given at first.
1) If you had been here on time, this would not have happened.
Becomes: Had you been____________________________.
2) If any Year 10 student’s are interested in helping with the
children’s party, they should see Mr. Weston at break.
Becomes: Should any Year 10_______________________.
3) If Michael had not phoned the police when he did, the situation
would have been much worse.
4) If Eddie Carter had auditioned for the lead part in the play, he
would have got it.
5) If the victim had seen the robber more clearly, he could have
given the police a better description.
6) If you should want to picnic in the park before the concert, the
gates will be open at four o’clock.
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3. JOINING SENTENCES
USING PARTICIPLES
You might already have seen this example:
Ben won the race and he was given a medal.
To remove boring, old “and”, these were suggested:
Having won the race, Ben was given a medal.
After winning the race, Ben was given a medal.
These sentences have been made by changing the verb from “won” to
“having won” and to “winning.”
This is a very useful way to build sentences when you have:
a) two things happening at the same time.
e.g Walking through the park, Jack saw a badger.
b) one thing happening after another.
e.g. Having walked through the park, Jack went to the shops.
As it is quite a sophisticated and clever construction, it is worth taking some time to
understand it.
LOOK AT THESE
Sentence: Phil was playing his best tennis for several years and he knew that he had a
chance of winning the tournament.
Becomes: Playing his best tennis for several years, Phil knew that he had a chance of
winning the tournament.
Sentence: Claire was sipping a cocktail near the golden beach and turquoise sea. She
thought that this was the best holiday she had ever had.
Becomes: Sipping a cocktail near the golden beach and turquoise sea, Claire thought
that this was the best holiday she had ever had.
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4. TASK
Copy the same construction in the following sentences by filling in the blanks. Copy
the sentences out in full. Most of them have been started for you.
Sentence: The police were clearing the streets after the worst riot for years. They
found thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.
Becomes: Clearing the _______________________________________, the police
found___________________________________ of damage.
Sentence: My brother has applied for a very exciting job at the B.B.C. He is now
spending his time doing research ready for his interview.
Becomes: Having applied for __________________________________, my brother
is now _________________________________his interview.
Sentence: Victorian children were raised by their parents or nannies very strictly.
They had to obey the rule that they should be seen and not heard.
Becomes: Raised by their ________________________________ strictly, Victorian
children______________________________________ not heard.
In all the above sentences, the new form of the verb has been put in italics. They are
parts of the verb and so are called participles. Without realising it, you have been
using participles to make these sentences!
There are two participles for every verb:
1) present participles. These are very easy as they always end in “____ing.”
Above, there were:
playing sipping clearing
2) past participles. These are a little more tricky because there are many
different ones. Above, there were:
applied raised
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5. You need to check that you can make these participles before you can build sentences
which use them. You’ll find that you do know most of them!
TASK. Complete the following columns.
The way to make a present participle is to put “I am” in front of it.
The way to make a past participle is to put “I have” in front of it. The first ones have
been done for you.
VERB PRESENT PARTICIPLE PAST PARTICIPLE
fly flying flown
swim swimming swum
ride riding rode
write
sit
bring
forget
buy
dive
lie (down)
lay (a carpet)
pay
sneak
prove
get
speak
go
break
drink
say
catch
rise
sing
do
shake
begin
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6. JOINING SENTENCES (ONE) Week 4
AVOIDING “AND”
This work is aimed at improving your writing skills and your marks by
helping you to make varied and interesting sentences.
LOOK AT THIS SENTENCE:
Ben won the race and he was given a medal.
REMEMBER: “and” is BORING. . .BORING. . .BORING
LOOK AT THESE
Because he won the race, Ben was given a medal.
Having won the race, Ben was given a medal.
Ben, the winner of the race, was given a
medal.
After he won the race, Ben was given a
medal.
Ben, who won the race, was given a medal.
After winning the race, Ben was given a medal.
NOTICE ANYTHING?
NOT ONE OF THEM USES BORING OLD “AND”!
TASK Remove boring old “and” from the following sentences by
filling in the blanks. Use the sentences above as examples.
Sentence 1
J.K. Rowling is the author of the “Harry Potter” books and is a
millionaire.
Becomes; J.K. Rowling, the____________________________________
_______________________, is _______________________________.
Sentence 2
Sophie finished her homework and went to the cinema.
Becomes; After finishing _________________________, Sophie
________ _______________________.
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7. Sentence 3
Sam liked History and decided to study it at G.C.S.E.
Becomes; Because he _______________________________, Sam
________________________________________________ G.C.S.E.
Sentence 4
I was listening to the car radio on the way to school and I recognised
the voice of a boy in my class.
Becomes; Listening to __________________________________school,
I recognised ___________________________________________class.
Sentence 5
Jo examined the problem closely for at least an hour and realised she
needed the teacher’s help.
Becomes; Having examined __________________________________
hour, Jo ________________________________________________help.
Sentence 6
Adam left school on Friday and doesn’t start his new school in
Australia until January next year.
Becomes; Adam, who ______________________________, doesn’t
___________________________________________________________
__________ year.
Sentence 7
I couldn’t find Miss Jackson at break to tell her about my Science
homework and so I waited for her at lunch.
Becomes;
As______________________________________________________
homework,____________________________lunch.
Sentence 8
Emma was looking through the contents of an old
suitcase in the loft and suddenly found something that
made her gasp.
Becomes; Looking _______________________________________loft,
Emma___________________________________________________
gasp.
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8. Week 5
JOINING SENTENCES
CONJUNCTION
The most common (and so unimpressive) conjunctions are:
and but because
Also badly over-used are:
then so
These are still worse as they’re not even real conjunctions. Your
sentences will be more varied and interesting, improving your writing
skills and your marks if you avoid over-using them by choosing others.
THE RHYME BELOW CONTAINS SEVENTEEN
CONJUNCTIONS.
LEARN IT!
USE THEM IN YOUR WRITING!
AS, WHERE, UNTIL, ALTHOUGH,
AFTER, BEFORE, SINCE, THOUGH,
WHILE, WHEN, WHEREAS, YET, OR,
WHETHER, UNLESS, IF, FOR.
FOUR TIPS FOR LEARNING THE RHYME
1) Lines one and two rhyme
2) Lines three and four rhyme
3) In the four lines, the number of words goes 4-4-5-4.
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9. JOINING SENTENCES (THREE) Week 5
AVOIDING “BUT”
Just as BORING BORING BORING as “AND” is “BUT.”
Very often you can use one of these conjunctions instead:
THOUGH ALTHOUGH WHEREAS YET
LOOK AT THESE. THE WORD “BUT” HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A
MORE INTERESTING CONJUNCTION.
although
1) Tom likes running but he knows that he isn’t very fast.
whereas
2) Simon is extremely tall but his brother James is quite short.
yet
3) Rachel’s mother hates hockey but she always goes to the
matches to support her daughter.
though
4) The students started the work in the lesson but the teacher
knew that they would not finish it.
TASK
Remove boring old “but” from the following sentences by replacing it
with one of the four conjunctions above. Try to use all four.
1) The tennis player knew that he could not win but he was determined to do his
best.
2) My mother likes cats but my father prefers dogs.
3) I liked the poem but I found it difficult to understand.
4) Laura volunteered to help at the charity children’s party but she already had
too many things to do that day.
5) Mrs. Barnett always drives to the shops but her fitness-fanatic husband
usually chooses to jog.
6) Many people would have given up after failing the driving test ten times but
David kept at it.
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10. COMMON ERRORS Week 6
 Can you sniff out the error in each of these sentences?
 Write these out as they should be written.
Underline the part you have changed.
1. They like football alot.
2. John is hi’s friend.
3. Hi shouted Jane.
4. The pea’s were delicious.
5. “Be quite,” said the teacher.
6. I live just passed the supermarket.
7. Whose that woman over there?
8. £500 is to expensive, I think.
9. We never go nowhere in winter.
10. Lucy said she seen the thieves running away.
11. I’m not sure weather to go or not.
12. They cooked the meal theirselves.
13. Do you like swimming
14. The cat licked it’s lips.
15. Tim writes very quick.
When you have checked your answer, make sure you
learn the correct version – and don’t repeat any
mistakes!
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