The key idea
Choose a joining word that shows how two ideas are connected.
What is it for?
Learn how to join short sentences and connect ideas more clearly.
What you need to know
- Use who for people and which for things.
- Use that for people or things when giving important details.
- Use although to show a surprising difference.
- Use when, while, before and after to connect events in time.
- Use if to show that one thing depends on another.
- Keep joined sentences clear and easy to follow.
1. Why join short sentences?
Many short sentences can sound like a list. Joined sentences show how ideas connect.
Look for two sentences about the same person, thing or event. Then choose a joining word that connects them.
- Keep the meaning of both original sentences.
- Remove repeated words when you can.
- Use two or three main ideas at most.
The café was crowded. It had excellent coffee.
These sentences give two separate facts.
The café, which had excellent coffee, was crowded.
Which connects the café with extra information.
I visited a café that served fresh bread.
That connects the café with an important detail.
2. Choose who, which or that
Use who when the extra information is about a person.
Use which for things. Use that for people or things when the detail identifies them.
- Put who, which or that after the noun it describes.
- Do not repeat the noun after the joining word.
- Do not usually put a comma before that.
I met a guide. She knew the city well.
Two short sentences about one person.
I met a guide who knew the city well.
Who joins the ideas about the guide.
We visited a museum that opened recently.
That gives an important detail about the museum.
3. Show surprise, time or a condition
Use although or even though when two ideas seem surprising together.
Use when, while, before or after to show time. Use if when one event depends on another.
- Although introduces an unexpected contrast.
- When shows the time of an event.
- While can show two events happening together.
- If introduces a possible situation and its result.
It was raining. We walked to the market.
The two ideas show an unexpected choice.
Although it was raining, we walked to the market.
Although shows the surprising contrast.
Call me when you reach the station.
When connects the call with a time.
If the bus is late, we will take a taxi.
If shows what may happen in that situation.
4. Place commas and keep sentences clear
When an although, when or if clause comes first, use a comma after it.
When the main idea comes first, a comma is usually not needed before a time or condition clause.
Do not join every idea into one long sentence. Two or three connected ideas are often enough.
- Although the shop was closing, we went inside.
- We went inside although the shop was closing.
- I called my friend when I arrived.
- Use a full stop when the sentence becomes too long.
The train was delayed. We waited at the station.
The original sentences are short and separate.
Although the train was delayed, we waited at the station.
The comma follows the opening although clause.
We waited at the station although the train was delayed.
No comma is usually needed in this order.
How to do it, step by step
- Read both short sentences carefully.
- Find the noun, event or idea they share.
- Choose a joining word that shows their connection.
- Put the words in a natural order and add a comma if needed.
- Read the new sentence and check its meaning and length.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| person + who + verb | I spoke to a woman who runs the bakery. | We thanked the driver who helped us. |
| thing + which + verb | We visited a park which has a lake. | She bought a phone which takes clear photos. |
| person or thing + that + detail | I found a shop that sells fresh bread. | He met a teacher that helped him. |
| Although + subject + verb, main clause | Although the road was busy, we crossed carefully. | Although I felt tired, I finished my shopping. |
| Even though + subject + verb, main clause | Even though it was cold, we ate outside. | Even though the queue was long, we waited. |
| main clause + when + subject + verb | I smiled when I saw my neighbour. | We ordered lunch when our friends arrived. |
| While + subject + verb, main clause | While I waited, I checked the bus times. | While she cooked, I prepared the table. |
| Before or after + subject + verb, main clause | After we ate, we walked around the square. | Before I left, I checked my shopping list. |
| If + subject + present simple, subject + will + verb | If the shop is open, I will buy some fruit. | If it rains, we will visit the museum. |
UK / US: Both British and American English use these joining words. Some punctuation choices may vary by style, but the examples here are standard in both.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B1 upgrades page.
Model text
From Short Sentences to Connected Writing
Part 1: The short version
On Saturday, I visited the city centre. The streets were busy. I met a local guide. She knew several quiet places. We stopped at a small café. The café served excellent soup. It started raining. We stayed inside. Later, the rain stopped. We walked to the river. The view was impressive. I took several photos.
These short sentences share details about one city visit. Some ideas belong together.
Part 2: Join related details
On Saturday, I visited the city centre, where the streets were busy. I met a local guide who knew several quiet places. We stopped at a small café that served excellent soup.
Where, who and that connect details to places, people and things.
Part 3: Show how events connect
Although it started raining, we stayed inside the café until the weather improved. After the rain stopped, we walked to the river, where the view was impressive. I took several photos because the light was beautiful. What I enjoyed most was discovering quiet places with someone who knew the city well.
Although shows contrast. After shows time, and because gives a reason. The final sentence highlights the main experience.
Common mistakes
✗ I met a woman which works here.
✓ I met a woman who works here.
Use who when the extra information describes a person.
✗ We bought a table, that was on sale.
✓ We bought a table that was on sale.
Do not usually put a comma before that.
✗ Although it was late we continued walking.
✓ Although it was late, we continued walking.
Use a comma after an opening although clause.
✗ The woman who she works here is helpful.
✓ The woman who works here is helpful.
Do not repeat the subject after who.
✗ If it will rain, we will stay home.
✓ If it rains, we will stay home.
Use the present simple after if for a real future possibility.
✗ When I arrived. I called my friend.
✓ When I arrived, I called my friend.
Keep the opening time clause connected to the main sentence.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Write the short sentences first.
- Underline repeated nouns and related ideas.
- Choose a joining word for each connection.
- Join the ideas and keep each sentence clear.
Check
- Does each joining word show the correct connection?
- Does who describe a person?
- Does which or that describe the correct thing or person?
- Have I used commas after opening clauses?
- Can I understand each sentence easily when I read it aloud?
Practice
Choose the best joining word
Choose the sentence that joins the ideas correctly.
1.I met a man. He repairs bicycles.
Use who to add information about a person.
2.The bus was late. We arrived on time.
Although shows the unexpected result.
3.I bought a jacket. It keeps me warm.
That can introduce an important detail about a thing.
4.Call me. You arrive at the station.
When shows the time for the call.
5.It may rain. We will take a taxi.
If introduces a possible situation and its result.
6.She bought a phone. It takes clear photos.
Which adds information about the phone.
Build joined sentences
Put the words in the correct order. Add punctuation.
1.Put the words in order:
helpedwhoussmiledthewoman
Who connects the woman with the action she did.
2.Put the words in order:
itwaswalkedwecoldalthough
Although shows contrast and needs a comma after the opening clause.
3.Put the words in order:
homearrivedcallediwheni
When shows when the call happened.
4.Put the words in order:
shopsellsopenthefreshbreadisthat
That joins the detail to the shop.
5.Put the words in order:
weifgoshopisthewillopen
If introduces a possible situation and its result.
6.Put the words in order:
phonemywaitedIIcheckedwhile
While connects actions happening during the same period.
Complete the sentences
Write one joining word in each gap.
1.The woman works at the desk speaks three languages.
Use who to describe a person.
2.I bought a bag has several pockets.
Which or that can introduce an important detail about a thing.
3. it was raining, we walked to the bus stop.
Although shows that the rain did not stop us.
4.I listened to music I cleaned the kitchen.
While shows that the two actions happened together.
5.We will eat outside the weather improves.
If introduces the condition for eating outside.
6.I called my sister I reached the hotel.
When shows the time of the call.
Correct one small mistake
Correct the joining word or comma in each sentence.
1.I met a teacher which works at my school.
Use who to describe a person.
2.Although it was cold we ate outside.
Add a comma after the opening although clause.
3.I bought a table, that was on sale.
Do not put a comma before that here.
4.If it will rain, we will stay home.
Use the present simple after if for a real future possibility.
5.When I got home. I made dinner.
Use a comma to connect the opening time clause to the main sentence.
Now write
Your task
Join these eight short sentences into four longer sentences. Then write a short paragraph about the city visit. Use the joining words from this lesson. You can change the order of the ideas, but keep their meaning. 1. I visited a busy city centre. 2. I met a guide. 3. The guide knew the local streets. 4. We entered a small bookshop. 5. The bookshop sold travel books. 6. It started raining. 7. We waited in a café. 8. The rain stopped. Write four joined sentences using all eight ideas. Then add a short paragraph about what you saw or learned. Use made-up details.
Word bank
city centrelocal guidequiet streetbookshoptravel booksheavy rainsmall caféwaited insideafter thatalthoughwhichwhowhenifimpressive
Sentence starters
- I visited a city where...
- I met a guide who...
- We entered a bookshop that...
- Although it started raining,...
- When the rain stopped,...
- If I visit again,...