The shack, which had roof boards which were crackling with fire and buckled walls, shuddered and collapsed with a roar.

The shack, its roof boards crackling with fire, collapsed with a roar when its/the walls buckled.

The train engine lumbered forward, its wheels glinting in the sun as they squeaked and strained under their load.

Grandpa listened to the news with his head cocked to one side; frowning and chewing his lip, he clicked off the radio, sighed and swore.

While frowning and chewing his lip, Grandpa listened to the news with his head cocked to one side; then he clicked off the radio, sighing and swearing.

Frowning and chewing his lip, Grandpa listened to the news with his head cocked to one side; then he clicked off the radio, sighing and swearing.

The batter tensed and dug his toe in the dust as he watched the pitch; then he squeezed the bat handle and swung with his weight as hard as he could.

After digging his toe in the dust, the tensed batter watched the pitch.

Mayor Glump can support the motion that deals with subsistence aid to the elderly, but as this would reverse his political stand against “handouts”, he can risk almost certain defeat at the election by voters who would be greatly distressed.

Mayor Glump can support the motion that deals with subsistence aid to the elderly; however, he can risk almost certain defeat at the election by voters who would be greatly distressed by this reversal of his political stand against “handouts”.

The children shrieked and whooped as they raced across the field, their shirttails flying and arms flailing; when they hit the water, they pelted each other with handfuls of mud.

Racing across the field, the children shrieked and whooped with flying shirttails and flailing arms; they hit the water and pelted each other with handfuls of mud.