2nd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 6 of 12
Joining Sentences
Join ideas with and, but, so, or
What your child practices
Joining two short sentences into one compound sentence with and, but, so or or, and putting a comma before the joining word.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 2.L.1 · joining ideas with and, but, so and or
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- “and” adds an idea; “but” shows something different; “so” shows a result; “or” gives a choice.
- Put a comma before the joining word in a compound sentence.
- Read both ideas and ask how they connect.
Example: Which word best joins the ideas? It was raining, ___ we stayed inside. Staying inside happened because of the rain. A result uses “so”. Answer: so
Joining Sentences in Arizona
In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 6 of 12 in 2nd grade English Language Arts, after Book Explorers and before Grammar Gears.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
- 2nd grade guide for Arizona parents
- Printable 2nd grade English Language Arts sheet
- Arizona report cards explained
Source: Arizona Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which word best joins the two ideas?
Do you want milk, do you want juice?
- or
- so
- because
or
Hint: Use or when there is a choice.
Question 2
Which word best joins the two ideas?
Maya was tired, she went to bed early.
- so
- but
- or
so
Hint: Use so when the second part happens because of the first part.
Question 3
Which one is a compound sentence?
- Soccer and hockey.
- Jay likes soccer, but Ana likes hockey.
- Jay likes soccer.
Jay likes soccer, but Ana likes hockey.
Hint: Look for two ideas, each with its own who and what happened, joined by a word.
Question 4
What goes before the joining word in a compound sentence?
- a question mark ?
- a comma ,
- nothing ever
a comma ,
Hint: Put a comma before and, but, or and so when they join two sentences.
Question 5
Which word best joins the two ideas?
Noah has a dog, Lena has a cat.
- or
- and
- because
and
Hint: Use and to add one more idea that goes with the first.
Question 6
Which word best joins the two ideas?
The hill was steep, Kenji rode his bike to the top.
- or
- but
- so
but
Hint: Use but when the second part is a surprise or a change.