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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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 2.2.1.3; 2.2.6.2 · joining ideas in sentences and using words that signal what happens next

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 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.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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 dog was muddy, we gave it a bath.

    • so
    • but
    • or

  2. Question 2

    Which one is a compound sentence?

    • The bell rang, so we lined up.
    • The bell rang.
    • The loud bell.

  3. Question 3

    Which word is the joining word? “It was late, so we went home.”

    • so
    • home
    • late

  4. Question 4

    Which word best joins the two ideas?

    I was hungry, I ate an apple.

    • or
    • so
    • but

  5. Question 5

    Which word best joins the two ideas?

    Is the cat inside, is it in the yard?

    • because
    • or
    • so

  6. Question 6

    Which one is a compound sentence?

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

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