This sentence-combining exercise has been adapted from the final chapter of the novel Mrs. Bridge, by Evan S. Connell. Although Mrs. Bridge enjoys material comforts, she is emotionally and intellectually unsatisfied, and the narrative in the final chapter provides an appropriate image of her entrapment.

Following the general guidelines at Introduction to Sentence Combining, combine the short sentences in each set below into a single clear and coherent sentence.

Here, for example, are two ways that the sentences in the first set can be combined effectively:

It was one December morning.
It was near the end of the year.
Snow was falling moist.
Snow was falling heavy.
Snow was falling for miles all around.
The earth and the sky were indivisible.
Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home.
Mrs. Bridge spread her umbrella.

Sample Combination #1:
One December morning near the end of the year when snow was falling moist and heavy for miles all around, so that the earth and the sky were indivisible, Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home and spread her umbrella.

Sample Combination #2:
One December morning near the end of the year, Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home and spread her umbrella as the snow fell moist and heavy for miles all around, so that the earth and sky were indivisible.

As with any sentence-combining exercise, feel free to combine sets (to create a longer sentence) or to make two or more sentences out of one set (to create shorter sentences). You may rearrange the sentences in any fashion that strikes you as appropriate and effective.

In the original chapter, several of Connell's sentences contain adjective clauses and adverb clauses. (See Sentence Combining With Adjective Clauses and Building Sentences With Adverb Clauses.) That said, keep in mind that many combinations are possible, and in some cases you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions.

Mrs. Bridge*

1. It was one December morning.
   It was near the end of the year.
   Snow was falling moist.
   Snow was falling heavy.
   Snow was falling for miles all around.
   The earth and the sky were indivisible.
   Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home.
   Mrs. Bridge spread her umbrella.
2. She proceeded with small steps.
   The steps were cautious.
   She proceeded to the garage.
   She pressed the button.
   She waited for the door to lift.
   She waited impatiently.
3. She was in a hurry to drive downtown.
   She intended to buy some Irish lace antimacassars there.
   These were advertised in the newspaper.
   She would browse through the stores.
   She intended to spend the rest of the day in this fashion.
   She had a reason for this.
   It was Harriet's day off.
   The house was empty--so empty.
4. She had backed just halfway out of the garage.
   The engine died.
5. She touched the starter.
   She listened without concern.
   She had experienced difficulties with the Lincoln.
   Despite this, she had grown to feel secure in it.
6. The Lincoln was a number of years old.
   It was recalcitrant.
   She could not bear the thought of parting with it.
   In the past she had resisted this suggestion of her husband.
   She was attached to the car.
   Her husband had been mildly puzzled by this.
   Her husband had allowed her to keep it.
7. She thought she might have flooded the engine.
   This was often true.
   Mrs. Bridge decided to wait a minute or so.
8. Presently she tried again.
   She tried again.
   Then she tried again.
9. She was openly disappointed.
   She opened the door to get out.
   She discovered something.
   She had stopped in a position.
   In this position the car doors were prevented from opening.
   The doors could not open more than a few inches.
   The doors were prevented on one side by the garage partition.
   The doors were prevented on the other side by the wall.
10. She tried all four doors.
    She began to understand something.
    Perhaps she could attract someone's attention.
    In the meantime she was trapped.
11. She pressed the horn.
    There was not a sound.
12. She remained half inside.
    She remained half outside.
13. She sat there not knowing what to do.
    She sat there for a long time.
    She sat there with her gloved hands folded in her lap.
14. She looked in the mirror.
    She looked at herself.
    She looked once.
15. She took the keys finally.
    She took them from the ignition.
    She began tapping on the window.
    She called to anyone.
    Anyone might be listening.
    She called, "Hello? Hello out there?"
16. But no one answered, unless it was the falling snow.

After you have completed this exercise, compare your sentences with those in Connell's original text: Evan S. Connell's Narrative Sketch of Mrs. Bridge. Again, keep in mind that many combinations are possible, and in some cases you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions.

*Mrs. Bridge, by Evan S. Connell, was first published by the Viking Press in 1959. It is currently available in a paperback edition published by Counterpoint (2005).