Sentence Combination — SAT Reading & Writing Explained
Sentence combination questions ask you to combine two or more shorter sentences into a single well-constructed sentence that is smooth, efficient, and clear.
The Core Idea
Good writers vary sentence length and structure. Short sentences can be powerful, but a series of choppy sentences is jarring. Combining sentences requires identifying the logical relationship between ideas and choosing the grammatical structure — subordination, coordination, or apposition — that best expresses it.
Combination Strategies
For equally important ideas: 'She studied; she also practiced timed tests.'
When one idea is less important: 'Because she studied daily, she passed with confidence.'
When one idea defines or renames another: 'Her strategy, daily deliberate practice, yielded results.'
For related but subsidiary actions: 'Studying daily, she improved her score each week.'
Strategy For Combination
1. Identify the relationship between the two ideas (equal? cause-effect? defining?)
2. Choose the grammatical structure that captures that relationship
3. Check that the combined sentence maintains all the original meaning
4. Prefer the most concise combination that remains clear
Common Errors to Avoid
Creating a run-on when combining two independent clauses
Using the wrong subordinating conjunction and misrepresenting the relationship
Losing information from one of the original sentences
How This Connects to Other Topics
Synthesis skill; integrates Sentence Boundaries, Parallelism, and Clarity skills
Practice: Sentence Combination
5 SAT-style questions. Select your answer and get an instant explanation.
Combine: The play opened on Friday. It received strong reviews.
Which option is most effective and grammatically correct?
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