Grammar: B1 Sentence Structure Challenge: Combining simple sentences using conjunctions & relative clauses.

B1 Sentence Structure Challenge

As your English improves, you want to sound more natural and fluent1. Writing in only short, simple sentences can sound robotic. Today's challenge is to learn two powerful tools to connect your ideas: conjunctions and relative clauses. Mastering these will make your writing and speaking much more impressive.

Tool #1: Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

A conjunction2 is a word that connects ideas. The coordinating conjunctions connect two complete sentences (independent clauses). A great way to remember them is with the acronym3 FANBOYS.

For (because), And (addition), Nor (joining negatives), But (contrast), Or (choice), Yet (contrast), So (result)

  • "I wanted to visit the museum, but it was closed."
  • "The sun was shining, and a cool breeze was blowing."
  • "He was very hungry, so he ate two bowls of noodles."

Punctuation Tip: When you connect two full sentences with a FANBOYS conjunction, use a comma before it.

Tool #2: Relative Clauses (who, which, that)

A relative clause4 is a type of clause5 that adds extra information about a noun. It starts with a relative pronoun like 'who', 'which', or 'that'.

  • who (for people): "My friend, who is a teacher, lives in Battambang."
  • which (for things): "I visited Wat Ek Phnom, which is an ancient temple."
  • that (for people or things): "This is the book that I bought yesterday."

The Challenge: Before & After

Let's see how these tools transform simple sentences into a fluent paragraph.

Before: "I have a friend. Her name is Lina. She lives in Battambang. She is a teacher. She works at a school. The school is near the river."

After: "I have a friend named Lina, and she lives in Battambang. She is a teacher who works at a school that is near the river."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Combine the Sentences

Combine the two simple sentences into one better sentence using the word in brackets.

  1. He was hungry. He ate a big bowl of noodles. (so)
    Answer: He was hungry, so he ate a big bowl of noodles.
  2. She has a brother. He is a doctor. (who)
    Answer: She has a brother who is a doctor.
  3. I want to go to the Bamboo Train. It is raining. (but)
    Answer: I want to go to the Bamboo Train, but it is raining.
  4. This is the cafe. I often study here. (which/that)
    Answer: This is the cafe which/that I often study at. OR This is the cafe where I often study.
📝 Homework: Improve the Paragraph

Rewrite this paragraph. Use conjunctions and relative clauses to connect the simple sentences and make it more fluent.

Paragraph to improve: "Yesterday I visited my friend. My friend lives in Battambang. His name is Sam. We went to a cafe. The cafe is very popular. It is near the river. We drank coffee. We talked for two hours. It was a good day."


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Example Answer: "Yesterday I visited my friend Sam, who lives in Battambang. We went to a popular cafe which is near the river. We drank coffee and talked for two hours, so it was a good day."

Vocabulary Glossary

  1. Fluent: (Adjective) - ស្ទាត់ជំនាញ (stuat'chŭm'néanh) - Able to speak or write a language easily and smoothly.
  2. Conjunction: (Noun) - ឈ្នាប់ (chhnŏăp) - A word used to connect clauses or sentences (e.g., and, but, so).
  3. Acronym: (Noun) - អក្សរកាត់ (âk'sâr'kăt) - A word formed from the first letters of a name or phrase, like 'NASA'.
  4. Relative Clause: (Noun Phrase) - ឃ្លាភ្ជាប់ (khléa ph'choăp) - A clause which gives more information about a noun, often starting with who, which, or that.
  5. Clause: (Noun) - ឃ្លា (khléa) - A group of words consisting of a subject and a verb.

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