EF3/4 sentence combining "Dad at Home"

sentence combining - build concise, dense sentences

Create a nice mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences.

kernel = central sentence

kernel + add new information

Kernel = Jackie's dad is a truck driver.

new information = for 20 years
verb tense = has driven (present perfect)

Jackie's dad is a truck driver for 20 years. XXX
Jackie's dad has been a truck driver for 20 years.

Jackie's dad has been a truck driver for 20 years, and he is taking a year off to be with Jackie. COMPOUND
Jackie's dad is a truck driver who has driven trucks for 20 years, and he is taking a year off to be with Jackie. COMPOUND COMPLEX
Jackie's dad is a truck driver who has driven trucks for 20 years, and he is taking a year off, so he will be with Jackie. COMPOUND COMPLEX
Jackie's dad who has been a truck driver for 20 years is taking a year off to be with Jackie. COMPLEX
After 20 years of driving trucks, Jackie's dad is taking a year off to be with her. SIMPLE

CONCISE, DENSE

present perfect - started in the past, continue to now
past ------------- now
He has lived in Vancouver for 15 years.
You have studied English since Grade 3.

2. He now works at home with Jackie as a full-time parent.
His full-time work now is parenting Jackie at home. SIMPLE
He now works as a full-time parent with Jackie
at home. SIMPLE - CONCISE

3. They clean and repair the house; also, they cook the meals and shop.
They have fun when they clean and repair the house, cook the meals, and shop.
They clean and repair the house; after that, they have fun cooking the meals and shopping.
They clean and repair the house; then they have fun shopping and cooking the meals.

They clean and repair the house, cook the meals, and shop while having fun.

They clean and repair the house, cook the meals, and shop, so they have fun. COMPOUND

4. They play in the afternoon; sometimes, they paint, have a picnic, go to a movie, or cycle.

Before they go a movie, they play in the afternoon, painting, picnicking, and cycling.

5. Jackie, who is four, enjoys each day spent with her dad. COMPLEX- ADJ CL
Jackie who enjoys each day spent with her dad is four. STYLE IS OFF - IMPORTANCE OF ADJ CL, LESS IMPORTANT

Jackie is four years old; she enjoys spending time with her dad every day. COMPOUND
Jackie is a four-year-old; she enjoys spending time with her dad every day. COMPOUND

This class is two hours long.
This is a two-hour class.
 'two-hour' describes 'class'

good class, bad class, interesting class, boring class

Jackie is four and enjoys every day spent with her dad. SIMPLE
Jackie is four enjoys every day spent with her dad. XXX
Jackie, who is four, enjoys every day spent with her dad.
Jackie, who enjoys spending each day with her dad, is four. MEANING IS SKEWED
ADJ CL is less important, the information is less important

Michelle, who is a doctor, has brown hair.
Michelle, who has brown hair, is a doctor. BETTER

ADJ CL is less important than MAIN CLAUSE
who is...
that is... LESS IMPORTANT, EXTRA INFORMATION, NOT THE MAIN INFORMATION

My dog, which is a good guard dog, is white.
My dog, which is white, is a good guard dog. 

My white dog is a good guard dog. SIMPLE