Transcript Grammar and Conventions

Grammar and Conventions
ELA9C1, ELA9C2
Sentence Structures
There are four types of sentences:
Simple sentences have only one
independent clause.
I want a puppy for Christmas.
Compound sentences are made from two
or more simple sentences, joined either
by a comma and conjunction or by a
semicolon. They include two or more
independent clauses.
I want a puppy for Christmas, but my
mother is allergic to dogs.
I want a puppy for Christmas; my mother
is allergic to dogs.
A complex sentence contains one
independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses.
I want a puppy for Christmas because
I have never owned a pet.
A compound-complex sentence contains
two or more independent clauses and
one or more dependent clauses.
I want a puppy for Christmas because
I have never owned a pet, but my
mother is allergic to dogs.
*PRACTICE
What type of sentence am I?
1. Mary pruned the bushes while Ben mowed the
lawn.
2. Dolores and Ricki went canoeing with their
friends after church on Sunday.
3. Three divers are trying out for a spot on the
team, and there is only one dive remaining.
4. Since Paul ran faster than all of his
classmates, he won the prize.
5. Never talk to strangers, and call 911 if you
have an emergency.
Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment tries its best to be a sentence,
but it just can’t make it. It’s missing something.
Often, it’s missing a verb or part of a
verb string:
John working extra hard on his
hook shot lately.
Here, for instance, we’re missing an
auxiliary — has been, in this case, probably
— that would complete the verb string and
the sentence.
Missing Subject
It may also be missing a subject,
as well as part of the verb.
Spending hours every day after
school working on her project.
This time we’re missing a subject AND part
of the verb. As it is, this is just a participle
phrase. There is no subject in the sentence,
and there is no helping verb to make a
complete verb phrase.
Avoiding Sentence Fragments
Sometimes a sentence fragment can give you a great deal
of information, but it’s still not a complete sentence:
After the coach encouraged him so
much last year and he seemed to
improve with each passing game.
Here we have a subject-verb relationship —
in fact, we have two of them — but the
entire clause is subordinated by the
dependent word after. We have no
independent clause.
Avoiding Sentence Fragments
Be alert for strings of prepositional phrases that never get
around to establishing a subject-verb relationship:
Immediately after the founding of the
college and during those early years as
the predominant educational
institution in the American Midwest.
Again, be careful of sentences which give
their share of information but still don’t
contain a subject and verb.
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
The length of a sentence has nothing to do with whether or
not a sentence is considered a run-on. An over-exuberant,
run-off-at-the-mouth, 400-word gorilla of a sentence can
be structurally fine. A run-on sentence is one in which two
clauses have been connected incorrectly. (If you’d like,
click on the word “clauses” to review that concept.)
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Let’s think of an independent clause as an independently
operated train headed west . . .
getting connected to another train headed east.
Nothing but grief will result from coupling these
train clauses incorrectly!
For example. . . .
Some students think they can study for an important
exam by “cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Some students think they can study for an important exam by
“cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.
This is an example of the dreaded COMMA SPLICE!
A comma splice connects two independent clauses with
only a comma.
There are several ways to fix a
comma splice. . . .
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
1. We can insert a period and start a new sentence.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by
“cramming” all night.
They are probably wrong.
2. We can insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by
“cramming” all night, but they are probably wrong.
3. We can use a semicolon.
Some students think they can study for an important
exam by “cramming” all night; they are probably wrong.
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
There are three situations in which run-on sentences are
apt to happen:
1. When a pronoun in the second clause refers to a noun
in the first clause: The President’s popularity has
plummeted, she apparently underestimated the opposition.
2. When a suggestion or directive occurs in the second
clause: You will be responsible for this material on the final
exam, study it thoroughly now.
3. When two clauses are connected by a transitional
expression: Many people think protectionism can halt rising
prices, however, the opposite is actually true.
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
1. The President’s popularity has plummeted, and she
apparently underestimated the opposition.
2. You will be responsible for this material on the final
exam. Study it thoroughly now.
3. Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices;
however, the opposite is actually true.
Parallel Sentence Structure
Parallel sentence structure means parts
of a sentence with equal importance
are expressed with equal emphasis.
In other words, verbs match with verbs,
adjectives with adjectives,
prepositional phrases with
prepositional phrases, and so on.
EXAMPLES
Not Parallel: Janine likes to dance, sing, and
even plays the flute.
Parallel: Janine likes to dance, sing, and play
the flute.
Not Parallel: When I think the rain will never
stop, the sun comes out, I hear the birds
begin to sing, and the flowers raise their
little heads.
Parallel: When I think the rain will never stop,
the sun comes out, the birds begin to sing,
and the flowers raise their little heads.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Grammar rules state that the subject of
the sentence must agree with its
corresponding verb. The subject is
the word performing the action. In
the examples below, each subject is
underlined, and each verb is bolded.
My older brothers play baseball in the
park.
The frog croaks in the pond every night.
S-V Agreement...
The subject of a sentence does not
necessarily have to appear before the
verb. In questions and sentences with
here and there, the verb usually comes
before the subject:
When is Dorothy coming to plant her
flowers?
There are four boys in my class.
S-V Agreement...
When two or more singular nouns or pronouns
are connected by or or nor, use a singular
verb.
The book or the pen is in the drawer.
When a compound subject contains both a
singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined
by or or nor, the verb should agree with the
part of the subject that is nearer the verb.
Her friends or the girl runs every day.
S-V Agreement...
Do not be misled by a phrase that comes
between the subject and the verb.
The verb agrees with the subject, not
with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
 One of the boxes is open
 The people who listen to that music
are few.
*PRACTICE...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mickey Mouse makes funny comments
during his cartoons.
Mrs. Nally and her friends plays
cards during the night.
There is five pencils on the floor.
Louise and Rita is going to
Disneyland.
The woman with all the dogs walk
down my street.
Shifts in Verb Tense
It is important to choose ONE verb
tense and use it throughout your
writing.
Non-parallel: Tiffany finishes her
homework and will do the dishes.
Parallel: Tiffany will finish her
homework and will do the dishes.
Modifiers
Modifiers are phrases and clauses the help to
clarify the meaning of a word.
Misplaced modifiers alter a word or phrase
ambiguously.
Wrong: Two students competed against the
school record diving in the swimming pool.
Correct: Diving in the swimming pool, two
students competed against the school
record.
Modifiers...
Dangling modifiers come at the
beginning of a sentence but do not
modify its subject.
Wrong: Listening to hip hop music, her
arms began to move with the rhythm.
Correct: Listening to hip hop music,
Latasha began to move her arms to
the rhythm.
* PRACTICE
Correct the following...
1. While fishing in the river, a large
piece of driftwood floated by.
2. One of our scouts sighted a tank
through his night vision glasses that
he could not identify.
3. Working at this beach side resort
for many months, sunstroke affects
many lifeguards.
Capitalization
Capitalize the first word of a sentence.
 Capitalize the first word of a direct
quotation that is a complete sentence, even
if it is within another sentence:
Mr. White said, “Be on time!”
 Capitalize the names of specific person,
places, things, or ideas, including races and
nationalities, street and road names,
specific titles of courses (Algebra I, not
math)

Commas
Commas separate independent clauses
only when they are joined by a
coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so).
Example: Jesse ran to the gas station,
but he forgot his money.
Commas...
Commas usually follow an introductory
word, phrase, clause, or expression:
Examples:
When I drive home from school, I go
right by your house.
After church on Wednesday night, we
usually go to CiCi’s pizza.
Commas...
Commas are usually used to separate
items in a series of three or more
words, clauses, or phrases.
Example: Tacos, tamales, and fajitas
are my favorite foods.
Commas...
Commas are used to set off an
appositive phrase:
Mrs. Jones, my favorite teacher of all
time, works at my old elementary
school.
Commas...
Commas are used before and after
quotations, unless the quotation ends
the sentence.
Example: “Go at once,” Gene
commanded, “and see what is causing
the commotion!”
Mom said, “It’s time to wake up.”
Quotation Marks
Use quotation marks to signify a direct
quotation.
Periods and commas always go inside the
quotation marks. Exclamation points
and question marks go inside if they’re
part of the quoted material.
Example: “Here we go again,” Keisha
said.
What’s the matter?” asked Lisa.
Quotation Marks...
Use quotation marks to signify a short
work of literature (such as a poem or
short story) or a speech. Underline
larger works such as books and plays.
Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a
Dream,” had a wide impact.
Have you read “The Most Dangerous
Game”?
Colons
Use a colon to introduce a list, series,
quotation, or formal statement.
At some time in your life, you will ask
the question: Why do I exist?
We brought everything needed for a
camping trip: food, water, tents,
blankets, and flashlights.
Semi-Colons
Semi-colons separate independent
clauses that are not joined by a
conjunction. Usually, semi-colons are
used in place of periods when the two
independent clauses are closely
related.
The saleswoman sold two houses; she
was very happy that day.