What is new in fourth grade?

Two things: your child now writes the combination instead of circling one, and subordinating words (because, when, after, although) join the toolbox beside and, but, and so.

How do I grade a written answer?

Compare it to the key's model sentence. If your child's version keeps every idea, says nothing twice, and joins the parts legally, it counts, even when the joining word differs from the model.

4th grade combining sentences

4th grade combining sentences worksheets

Fourth grade sentence combining turns productive: the two short sentences print above a writing line, and your child writes the combined sentence, weighing a comma plus joining word against a clause starting with because, when, or although. The answer key shows the strongest combination, and a choice version is one click away.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.5.3.a.

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

The kind of sentences you'll fix

Read the two sentences. Write one sentence that combines them. Use a joining word.

The library added a maker space. Attendance doubled.
Fixed: After the library added a maker space, attendance doubled.
The garden club planted tulips. The frost took half of them.
The snow stopped at dawn. The plows kept working.

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 4th grade sheet

4th grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 8 to a page. 4th and 5th grade print from the same 60 sentences. The teaching notes below are written for this grade. 3rd grade sheets print 7 to a page.

A few of the sentences, as the answer key corrects them:

Because the blizzard closed the pass, the skiers waited in the lodge.
The quiz covered fractions, but nobody had reviewed them.
When the debate ended in applause, both sides shook hands.

Fix it. Read the two sentences. Write one sentence that combines them. Use a joining word. 8 sentences to fix per page.
Choose the sentence. Read the two sentences. Circle the letter of the sentence that combines them best. 8 questions per page.

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

How to teach this

Two good tools now compete: comma plus conjunction, or a clause starting with because, when, or although. Have your child say both versions out loud and pick the one that keeps the emphasis where the original pair put it. Talking through one item well beats rushing five.

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 4th grade combining sentences

What is new in fourth grade?: Two things: your child now writes the combination instead of circling one, and subordinating words (because, when, after, although) join the toolbox beside and, but, and so.
How do I grade a written answer?: Compare it to the key's model sentence. If your child's version keeps every idea, says nothing twice, and joins the parts legally, it counts, even when the joining word differs from the model.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.5.3.a. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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