Connecting ideas within sentences by combining clauses.

Combine clauses in a few basic ways to make connections between and join ideas in sentences (e.g., creating compound sentences using coordinate conjunctions, such as and, but, so).

Combine clauses in an increasing variety of ways (e.g., creating complex sentences using familiar subordinate conjunctions) to make connections between and join ideas in sentences, for example, to express cause/ effect (e.g., The deer ran because the mountain lion came) or to make a concession (e.g., She studied all night even though she wasn't feeling well).

Combine clauses in a wide variety of ways (e.g., creating complex sentences using a variety of subordinate conjunctions) to make connections between and join ideas, for example, to express cause/effect (e.g., Since the lion was at the waterhole, the deer ran away), to make a concession, or to link two ideas that happen at the same time (e.g., The cubs played while their mother hunted).