Advanced Sentence Combining: Transitions, Conjunctive Adverbs, and Relative Clauses

Transitional Expressions and Conjunctive Adverbs

While coordinating and subordinating conjunctions link clauses structurally within sentences, conjunctive adverbs (also known as transitional adverbs or bridge words) connect independent thoughts logically across clause boundaries. Conjunctive adverbs express nuanced relationships such as addition, contrast, cause-and-effect, sequence, or emphasis.

Unlike coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs are not true grammatical conjunctions; they are adverbs functioning as transitions. Consequently, they cannot join two independent clauses with merely a comma (doing so creates a comma splice).

Categories of Conjunctive Adverbs

---

Punctuation Rules for Conjunctive Adverbs and Semicolons

Correctly punctuating conjunctive adverbs is a major focal point of the ACCUPLACER ESL test. Depending on where the transition appears, specific punctuation patterns apply:

Pattern 1: Joining Two Independent Clauses → Semicolon + Comma

When a conjunctive adverb connects two independent clauses into a single sentence, it must be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.

• Formula: [Independent Clause 1] + ; + [Conjunctive Adverb] + , + [Independent Clause 2]
• Correct Example: The tuition fees increased significantly*; however,** student enrollment remained steady.*
• Incorrect (Comma Splice): The tuition fees increased significantly*, however,** student enrollment remained steady.*

Pattern 2: Linking Two Separate Sentences → Period + Comma

A conjunctive adverb can also begin a new sentence to transition from the previous sentence. In this case, it is preceded by a period and followed by a comma.

• Formula: [Independent Sentence 1] + . + [Conjunctive Adverb] + , + [Independent Sentence 2]
• Correct Example: The tuition fees increased significantly*. However,** student enrollment remained steady.*

Pattern 3: Parenthetical Insertion Within a Clause → Enclosed in Commas

When a conjunctive adverb is placed inside a single independent clause as an interrupting element, it is set off by commas on both sides.

• Formula: [Subject] + , + [Conjunctive Adverb] + , + [Verb / Predicate]
• Correct Example: Student enrollment*, however,** remained steady despite the tuition increase.*

The Standalone Semicolon Rule

A semicolon alone (without any conjunction or transition word) can join two independent clauses when their logical relationship is so close that a period would feel overly abrupt.

• Correct Example: The first experiment produced invalid results*;** the second trial yielded accurate measurements.*

Relative Clauses (Adjectival Clauses) and Sentence Combining

A relative clause (or adjectival clause) is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause, functioning exactly like an adjective. Relative clauses begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).

Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses

Understanding whether a relative clause is restrictive or non-restrictive determines whether commas are required:

Relative Pronoun Selection Rules for ESL

• Who vs. Whom: Use who as a subject pronoun (The professor who won the award...). Use whom as an object pronoun (The candidate whom the dean interviewed... or The scholar to whom I spoke...).
• Whose: Indicates possession for both people and things (The student whose paper was published...).
• Which vs. That: For things, that is common in restrictive clauses; restrictive which is also grammatical, although some U.S. style guides prefer that. Use which with commas for a non-restrictive clause.

---

Step-by-Step Sentence Combining Methodology

When encountering sentence-combining items on the ACCUPLACER ESL Language Use test, follow this systematic four-step process:

1. Step 1: Identify the Core Message and Relationships: Analyze the two simple sentences to determine the primary assertion and the supporting logical relationship (for example, contrast, cause, addition, description).
2. Step 2: Choose the Structural Connector: Select coordination (FANBOYS), subordination (because, although), conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore), or relative clauses (who, which, that) depending on the prompt instructions.
3. Step 3: Eliminate Redundancy and Choppiness: Remove repetitive subjects, pronouns, or filler words while merging thoughts smoothly.
4. Step 4: Audit Punctuation and Modifier Placement: Verify that commas, semicolons, and relative pronouns are placed correctly and that modifiers sit directly adjacent to the words they modify.

Worked Sentence Combining Example

• Two Choppy Sentences: "Dr. Alvarez completed the breakthrough medical study. She received an international award at the annual conference."
• Combining Strategy A (Relative Clause): "Dr. Alvarez, who completed the breakthrough medical study, received an international award at the annual conference." (Combines smoothly using a non-restrictive relative clause set off by commas).
• Combining Strategy B (Subordinate Clause): "After Dr. Alvarez completed the breakthrough medical study, she received an international award at the annual conference." (Combines using a temporal subordinate clause with an introductory comma).