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CHAPTER 8
Connecting Ideas

CONTENTS

8-1 Connecting ideas with and 8-5 Using and ⫹ too, so, either, neither
8-2 Connecting ideas with but and or 8-6 Connecting ideas with because
8-3 Connecting ideas with so 8-7 Connecting ideas with even though/
8-4 Using auxiliary verbs after but and and although

□ EXERCISE 1. Preview. (Chapter 8)

Directions: Add punctuation (commas and periods) and capital letters if necessary. Do not
change or add any words.

1. Butterflies are insects all insects have six legs.

→ Butterflies are insects. All insects have six legs.

2. Ants and butterflies are insects. OK (no change)

3. Ants butterflies cockroaches bees and flies are insects.

4. Butterflies and bees are insects spiders are different from insects.

5. Spiders have eight legs so they are not called insects.

6. Most insects have wings but spiders do not.

7. Bees are valuable to us they pollinate crops

and provide us with honey.

8. Some insects bite us and carry diseases.

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9. Insects can cause us trouble they bite us carry diseases and eat our food.

10. Insects are essential to life on earth the plants and animals on earth could not live

without them insects may bother us but we have to share this planet with them.

11. We have to share the earth with insects because they are essential to plant and

animal life.

12. Because insects are necessary to life on earth it is important to know about them.

8-1 CONNECTING IDEAS WITH AND

CONNECTING ITEMS WITHIN A SENTENCE When and connects only two words (or phrases)
within a sentence, NO COMMAS is used, as in (a).
(a) NO COMMA: I saw a cat and a mouse. When and connects three or more items within a
(b) COMMAS: I saw a cat, a mouse, and a dog. sentence, COMMAS are used, as in (b).*

CONNECTING TWO SENTENCES When and connects two complete sentences (also
called independent clauses), a comma is usually
(c) COMMA: I saw a cat, and you saw a mouse. used, as in (c).
(d) PERIOD: I saw a cat. You saw a mouse. Without and, two complete sentences are
(e) INCORRECT: I saw a cat, you saw a mouse. separated by a period, as in (d), NOT a comma.**
A complete sentence begins with a capital letter;
note that You is capitalized in (d).

*In a series of three or more items, the comma before and is optional.
,
ALSO CORRECT: I saw a cat a mouse and a dog.

**A “period” (the dot used at the end of a sentence) is called a “full stop” in British English.

□ EXERCISE 2. Connecting ideas with AND. (Chart 8 -1)

Directions: Underline and label the words (noun, verb, adjective) connected by and. Add
commas as necessary.
noun + noun
1. My aunt puts milk and sugar in her tea. → no commas needed
noun + noun + noun
2. My aunt puts milk, sugar, and lemon in her tea. → commas needed

3. The river is wide and deep.

4. The river is wide deep and dangerous.

5. Goats and horses are farm animals.

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6. Giraffes anteaters tigers and kangaroos are wild animals.

7. The children played games sang songs and ate birthday cake.

8. The children played games and sang songs.

9. My mother father and grandfather went to the airport to pick up my brother and

sister.

10. When he wants to entertain the children, my husband moos like a cow roars like a lion

and barks like a dog.

□ EXERCISE 3. Connecting ideas with AND. (Chart 8 -1)

Directions: Write sentences for some or all of the topics below. Use and in your sentences.
Example: three things you are afraid of
→ I’m afraid of heights, poisonous snakes, and guns.
1. your three favorite sports
2. three adjectives that describe a person whom you admire
3. four cities that you would like to visit
4. two characteristics that describe (name of this city)
5. three or more separate things you did this morning
6. the five most important people in your life
7. two or more things that make you happy
8. three or more adjectives that describe the people in your country

□ EXERCISE 4. Punctuating with commas and periods. (Chart 8 -1)

Directions: Add commas and periods where appropriate. Capitalize as necessary.
1. The rain fell the wind blew.
→ The rain fell. The wind blew.

2. The rain fell and the wind blew.

→ The rain fell, and the wind blew.*

3. I talked he listened.

4. I talked to Ryan about his school grades and he listened to me carefully.

*Sometimes the comma is omitted when and connects two very short independent clauses.
ALSO CORRECT: The rain fell and the wind blew. (NO COMMA)
In longer sentences, the comma is helpful and usual.

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5. The man asked a question the woman answered it.

6. The man asked a question and the woman answered it.

7. People and animals must share the earth and its resources.

8. Rome is an Italian city it has a mild climate and many interesting attractions.

9. You should visit Rome its climate is mild and there are many interesting attractions.

10. The United States is bounded by two oceans and two countries the oceans are the

Pacific to the west and the Atlantic to the east and the countries are Canada to the

north and Mexico to the south.

11. The twenty-five most common words in English are: the and a to of I in was that it he

you for had is with she has on at have but me my and not.

8-2 CONNECTING IDEAS WITH BUT AND OR

(a) I went to bed but couldn’t sleep.
(b) Is a lemon sweet or sour?
(c) Did you order coffee, tea, or milk?
And, but, and or are called “conjunctions.”*
Like and, but and or can connect items within a
sentence.
Commas are used with a series of three or more
items, as in (c).

I dropped the vase. ⫽ a sentence
It didn’t break. ⫽ a sentence
(d) I dropped the vase, but it didn’t break.
(e) Do we have class on Monday, or is Monday a
holiday?
A comma is usually used when but or or combines
two complete (independent) sentences into one
sentence, as in (d) and (e).**

*More specifically, and, but, and or are called “coordinating conjunctions.”

**Except in very formal writing, a conjunction can also come at the beginning of a sentence.
ALSO CORRECT: I dropped the vase. But it didn’t break.
I saw a cat. And you saw a mouse.

□ EXERCISE 5. Connecting ideas with AND, BUT, and OR. (Charts 8 -1 and 8 - 2)
Directions: Add and, but, or or. Add commas if necessary.
1. I washed my shirt , but it didn’t get clean.

2. Would you like some water or some fruit juice?

3. I bought some paper, a greeting card , and some envelopes.

4. The flight attendants served dinner I didn’t eat.

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