What joins show up at third grade?

Shared subjects, shared predicates, and full compound sentences with a comma plus and, but, or so. The key names the join for every answer, so the why is always on the page.

How should my child check an answer?

Read the combined sentence aloud. It should say every idea from both originals, say nothing twice, and sound like one sentence, not two taped together.

3rd grade combining sentences

3rd grade combining sentences worksheets

Third grade combining worksheets mix three joins: shared subjects (Sam ran and jumped), shared predicates, and full compound sentences with a comma plus and, but, or so. Your child picks the smoothest correct combination, and the key names the join it used.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.2.1.f.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Read the two sentences. Circle the letter of the sentence that combines them best.

Nia hummed a tune. The baby fell asleep. Nia hummed a tune, or the baby fell asleep. · Nia hummed a tune, and the baby fell asleep. · Nia hummed a tune, the baby fell asleep.
Answer: Nia hummed a tune, and the baby fell asleep.
The snow fell. The plows came out. The snow fell, the plows came out. · The snow fell, so the plows came out. · The snow fell, or the plows came out.
The library has puzzles. The library has games. The library has puzzles, the library has games. · The library has puzzles and games. · The library has puzzles and the library has games.

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 3rd grade sheet

3rd grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 7 to a page. 2nd and 3rd grade print from the same 60 sentences. The teaching notes below are written for this grade. 2nd grade sheets print 6 to a page.

Some of the answers:

The soup is hot, and the bread is warm.Rosa wants juice, but there is no juice left.The pizza is here, so the movie can start.Ana read the map, and Tom held the flashlight.We picked apples and made a pie.Diego set the table, and his sister poured the water.The fans clapped, and the band bowed.Mom packed sandwiches, and Dad packed drinks.The path splits here, and we can go left.The whistle blew, and the swimmers dove in.

Choose the sentence. Read the two sentences. Circle the letter of the sentence that combines them best. 7 questions per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Ask for the relationship before the join: does the second idea add, push back, or follow as a result? That question picks the word (and, but, so) and turns a guessing task into a thinking task. Then read the winning choice aloud to hear the smoothness.

Watch for: Kids glue sentences with just a comma: 'Ben has a kite, Ben has a drum.' That is a comma splice. Joining needs a joining word, or the repeats folded away. Kids pick and for everything. And adds, but pushes back, or offers a choice, so gives a result. Reading the combined sentence aloud with the wrong word usually exposes it.

Common questions about 3rd grade combining sentences

What joins show up at third grade?: Shared subjects, shared predicates, and full compound sentences with a comma plus and, but, or so. The key names the join for every answer, so the why is always on the page.
How should my child check an answer?: Read the combined sentence aloud. It should say every idea from both originals, say nothing twice, and sound like one sentence, not two taped together.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Need a fresh set of sentences? Download another copy.

Aligned to Common Core L.2.1.f. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets