Transcript Grammar Review 1

Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences
• Comma Splice- two or more sentences joined
together as one, separated by a comma
• Run-On-two sentences written incorrectly as
one
• Compound sentence-two independent clauses
separated by a comma and conjunction
• FANBOYS-for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Fixing these errors
•
•
•
•
Add a comma and a FANBOYS word (a conjunction)
Add a semi colon
Add a period
Change an independent clause to a dependent clause
by adding a word like although, because, despite or
while
– Because we were required to read the novel, I actually
enjoyed it.
• Keep an eye out for verbs that end in –ing. When
these are underlined in the ACT, it might be a fragment
error hiding.
– The monkey swinging in the tree.
Punctuation Rules
• Commas
– Separate introductory words from the main part of the sentence
– Set off non-essential words or phrases
– Separate two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (FANBOYS
word)
– Separate items in a series
• Semi-Colons
– Link two independent clauses NOT joined by a FANBOYS word
– Use with: furthermore, however, in fact, indeed, moreover,
nevertheless, therefore and thus
– DO NOT USE with: although, despite, whereas, who, which, where,
that
• Dashes
– Indicate break in thought
– Set off parenthetical information from the main part of a sentence
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
• anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone,
somebody, no one, and nobody are always singular
• Either and neither are always singular
• Collective nouns may be singular or plural depending on
meaning in sentence
– The team saluted its fans.
– The members of the team saluted their fans.
• Titles of singular entities (a book, a country), take the
singular
• Every or many takes the singular
• “The number of” is singular
• “A number of” is plural
What is a modifier?
What are the rules for modifiers?
• Do not confuse use of adjectives and adverbs
• Make sure position does not create confusion
– New students and parents should attend the meeting.
• Should not cause ambiguity
– Ten of the thirty students did not report minor problems.
• Should be singular, even when adjective is actually a
noun
– The freshman class
• Careful with misplaced modifiers
– I know a person with a new car named George.
• Commas can help you know what goes with what
Pronouns and their Cases
Nominative
(subjective)
Objective
Possessive
Singular
I, you, he, she, it,
who
Me, you, him, her,
it, whom
My, mine, yours,
your, his, hers, its
Plural
They, we
Us, them
Ours, our, theirs
Part of the
Sentence
Subject, predicate
noun
Direct object,
indirect object,
object of a
preposition
Possessive noun,
adjective
Use after a linking
verb (verbs that
show state of being
or link the subject
to a description)
Use after an action
verb
Use after a linking
verb OR before a
noun (as an
adjective)
Avoiding Wordiness in Writing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Change passive voice to active voice
Use strong verbs
Avoid redundancy
Avoid exaggerating words
Get rid of filler/unnecessary phrases
Passive v. Active Voice
• Passive voice is when you make the object of
the sentence the subject of the sentence
– Active voice: Germany invaded Poland.
– Passive voice: Poland was invaded by Germany.
• Passive voice is grammatically correct, but it
often makes your writing wordy and dull
Strong Verbs
When using verbs …
1. Use action verbs instead of forms of to be,
especially coupled with the word “there”
2. Avoid stilted verbs –started to do something
When to add a comma
• To separate independent clauses when joined
by a conjunction
• To set off introductory phrases
• Separate items in a list
• To set off non-essential information
• With punctuation of dates and geographic
information
Warm Up-Monday
Comma Abuse Rules
• Don't use a comma to separate the subject from the verb.
– Incorrect: An eighteen-year old in California, is now considered
an adult.
• Don't put a comma between the two verbs or verb
phrases in a compound predicate.
– Incorrect: We laid out our music and snacks, and began to
study.
• Don't put a comma between the two nouns, noun
phrases, or noun clauses in a compound subject or
compound object.
– Incorrect (compound subject):The music teacher from your
high school, and the football coach from mine are married.
– Incorrect (compound object):Jeff told me that the job was still
available, and that the manager wanted to interview me.
More Comma Abuse
• Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence,
such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses
after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb
expressing mental action are always essential.
– The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.
– The apples that fell out of the basket are bruised.
• Don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent
(subordinate) clause follows it (except for cases of extreme
contrast).
– Incorrect: She was late for class, because her alarm clock was broken.
– Incorrect: The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating.
– Correct: She was still quite upset, although she had won the
Oscar.(This comma use is correct because it is an example of extreme
contrast)