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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.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: Language 1 · joining ideas with and, but, so and or

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. “and” adds an idea; “but” shows something different; “so” shows a result; “or” gives a choice.
  2. Put a comma before the joining word in a compound sentence.
  3. 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 Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, 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.

Source: Maine 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.

  1. Question 1

    Which word best joins the two ideas?

    The soup smelled good, it was too hot to eat.

    • or
    • but
    • so

  2. Question 2

    Which one is a compound sentence?

    • Jay likes soccer.
    • Jay likes soccer, but Ana likes hockey.
    • Soccer and hockey.

  3. Question 3

    Which word best joins the two ideas?

    I wanted to swim, the pool was closed.

    • so
    • but
    • or

  4. Question 4

    Which one is a compound sentence?

    • We can draw, or we can read.
    • We can draw.
    • Drawing or reading.

  5. Question 5

    Which word best joins the two ideas?

    Do you want milk, do you want juice?

    • so
    • because
    • or

  6. Question 6

    Which word is the joining word? “I ran fast, but I lost the race.”

    • ran
    • race
    • but

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