Joining clauses

Joining words. Long sentences are made by joining short ones. Each joining word shows a different kind of link:

• who: a person ('Mrs Brown, who had taught English in high school, stated…');
• whose: belonging to someone ('the detective whose method never failed');
• where: a place ('They tell where the jewellery is hidden');
• when: a time ('When he came up against a case he couldn't solve, he acted at once');
• why: a reason, inside a sentence ('Readers wonder why criminals leave clues');
• because: states a reason directly ('They became friendly because of shared interests');
• which: one out of a group ('decide which suspect is guilty');
• if: a condition or doubt ('one may wonder if they could have solved it');
• how: the way something is done;
• though (although): a surprise or contrast.

Use though when the second part is surprising after the first: 'Though the mystery seems tricky, a clever detective always finds answers.'

The detective-story passage, filled in: guessing who the real culprit is; settings where clues are hidden; though the mystery seems tricky; wonder why criminals leave clues; decide which suspect is guilty; when the truth is revealed; wonder if they could have solved it; fun because they make readers think.

Joining makes writing shorter:

• 'We went to a place. The incident occurred there.' → 'We went to the place where the incident occurred.'
• 'The teacher said she would retire soon. She is nearly sixty.' → 'The teacher, who is now nearly sixty, said she would retire soon.'