Basic Sentence Elements Subjects and Predicates A sentence

Basic Sentence Elements: Subjects and Predicates • A sentence is an independent clause. It contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. – Examples: Subject Dogs Susie The morning sun Predicate bite. is a prankster. shines brightly.

Basic Sentence Elements: Phrases • A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject or predicate. – Examples: • To listen carefully. • Rustling their papers and snapping their notebooks closed.

Basic Sentence Elements: Dependent Clauses • A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete thought. It needs the rest of the sentence to be complete. – Examples: • Because I was hungry. [This is not a complete thought. ] • Because I was hungry, I made myself a sandwich. [Now it is a complete thought because it is attached to an independent clause. ]

Grammar: Fragments • A fragment is is an incomplete sentence. It may lack a subject or a verb, or it may be a dependent clause. Revise fragments by adding a subject or a verb or by combining the fragment with the previous (or following) sentence. • Examples: – I gained weight. Because I ate too much. [The second group of words is a fragment. It needs to be attached to the first sentence: » I gained weight because I ate too much. – When my car didn’t start. I called the mechanic. [This first group of words is a fragment. It needs to be connected to the second part: » When my car didn’t start, I called the mechanic.

Grammar: Comma Splices • A comma splice occurs when you incorrectly join two independent clauses with a comma. – Examples: I was driving very fast, I got a speeding ticket. To correct, and a coordinating conjunction: I was driving very fast, so I got a speeding ticket. You may also insert a period: I was driving very fast. I got a speeding ticket.

Grammar: Run On Sentences • A run on or fused sentence occurs when you join two independent clauses without any punctuation. – Examples: • My boyfriend broke up with me my heart was broken. – To correct, insert a period between the two independent clauses : • My boyfriend broke up with me. My heart was broken. – You could also insert a comma and a coordinating conjunction : • My boyfriend broke up with me, and my heart was broken.

Coordination • You can join two independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating Conjunctions Use the acronym “boyfans” to help you remember them! but or yet for and nor so Insert a comma between the two independent clauses and add a coordinating conjunction. Examples: It was late, so I decided to take the bus. The dog barked all night, but the neighbors didn’t complain.

Subordination An independent clause can be joined to a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction. If the dependent clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, it is followed by a comma. • Example: Dependent clause: When you father arrives. Independent clause: We will eat dinner. When your father arrives, we will eat dinner. If the dependent clause follows the independent clause, do not add a comma. Example: We will eat dinner when your father arrives.

Subordination: Subordinating Conjunctions after because since when(ever) although before unless whereas as (if) if until while Examples: After the dance, we got something to eat at Mc. Donalds. We can’t leave for the trip until Sarah arrives. While I was waiting for the call, I filed my nails. Don’t ride in the car unless you are wearing your seatbelt.

Conjunctive Adverbs A conjunctive adverb placed between two independent clauses can help to clarify the relationship between the two clauses. Conjunctive Adverbs consequently in fact nevertheless furthermore indeed then however moreover therefore Examples: She was very angry; therefore, she hit him. She was very angry; however, she did not him. *Notice that the semicolon separates the two independent clauses. It is placed before the conjunctive adverb. The conjunctive adverb is followed by a comma.

Commas: Introductory Elements Use commas to set off introductory elements: Examples: To save money, I often use coupons when I shop. Of course, I need to plan ahead. When I read the paper, I clip out all the store coupons. Before I go to the store, I check to see what is on sale that day.

Commas: Items in a Series Use commas to separate items in a series. Use a comma before the and to avoid confusion. Examples: She rented a house with a stove, microwave, refrigerator with an icemaker, and a garbage disposal. [Leaving out the comma before and could cause confusion. ]

Commas: Restrictive & Nonrestrictive Modifiers Nonrestrictive modifiers should be separated from the sentence by commas. Always test the sentence. If the modifier can be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning, put commas before and after it. Examples: Linda, my best friend, loves to talk. [The phrase “my best friend” is a nonrestrictive modifier. Taking it out doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. ] The woman in the red dress is my best friend. [The phrase “in the red dress” is a restrictive modifier. It explains which woman is “my best friend. ”]

Commas: Coordinate Adjectives Use a comma to separate equal adjectives. To test to see if you need a comma, try reversing the order of the adjectives. Then try adding and between the adjectives. If the sentence still makes sense, insert a comma between the two adjectives. Examples: It was a long, boring class. [This could also be written as, “It was a long and boring class. ”] I put studded snow tires on my new car. [This could not be written as, “I put snow studded tires on my new car. ” So don’t add the comma between the two adjectives. ]

Commas: Quotation Marks Use a comma to set off a direct quotation dialogue. Examples: My son yelled, “Where are the chips? ” According to Postman, “Schools are not now and have never been largely about getting information to children. ”

Commas: Dates, Addresses, and Titles Use commas to set off dates, addresses, and degrees/titles. Examples: On February 2, 2000, they celebrated Groundhog’s Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Don’t forget to stop in Du. Bois, Pennsylvania, when traveling on Interstate 80. Jayne Magee, Ph. D. , is my English professor. Gary Magee, D. C. , is the best chiropractor in the area.

Commas: Appositives: • Appositives rename the noun that precedes it and are set off with commas. • Example: • My uncle, James Brown, works for Kodak. • The professor who teaches English Comp. 1, Dr. Jayne Magee, is very nice.

Commas: Showing contrast • When you show contrast, use a comma. • Example: I bought the green blouse, not the blue one.

Commas: Questions • Use commas to set off a question at the end of a sentence. • Example: • I think Tom Cruise is really cute, don’t you?

Commas: Direct Address • Set off a person’s name with a comma when you address them by name in a sentence. • Leo, aren’t you going to class today? • What are you wearing to the party, Marge? • I think you know, Jan, how much you mean to me.

Unnecessary Commas: Do not use a comma to separate a subject and a verb. Incorrect: Correct: My youngest son, goes to college in New York City. My youngest son goes to college in New York City. Do not use a comma to separate compound subjects or predicates. Incorrect: The mother, and the daughter are both in the same English class. Correct: The mother and the daughter are both in the same English class. Incorrect: Since it was Sunday, I stayed in bed all day, and watched TV. Correct: Since it was Sunday, I stayed in bed all day and watched TV.

Semicolons: Independent Clauses Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a complete sentence; however, because they are closely related, you may use a semicolon. Examples: I love Italian food; lasagna is my favorite dish. [This could also be written as follows: I love Italian food. Lasagna is my favorite dish. ] *Note: This is when many people make the mistake of inserting a comma instead of a semicolon. If you do this, you are creating a “comma splice, ” which is an error. Incorrect: I love Italian food, lasagna is my favorite dish.

Semicolons: Items in a Series Use a semicolon to separate items in a series that already contain commas. Examples: I have lived in Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I introduced my boyfriend to David, my brother; Leslie, my sister-in-law; and Travis, my nephew.

Colons Use a colon [: ] to introduce a list or an explanation. The are often used in titles, too. Examples: I brought the following dishes to the dinner party: fried chicken, potato salad, and chocolate cake. There is only one way to lose weight: eat less and exercise more! Think and Grow Rich: Ten Easy Lessons is the best book I have read all year.

Apostrophes: Possession Use an apostrophe [‘] to show possession. Examples: I borrowed my sister’s car. For plural nouns ending in s, add the apostrophe after the plural noun. The crowd booed the Indians’ star pitcher. With multiple nouns, show joint possession by adding the apostrophe only to the last of the nouns. We were invited to Chad and Susan’s wedding.

Apostrophes with Possessives • For plural nouns not ending in –s, use ‘s • Example: six men’s coats • For joint ownership by two or more nouns, add ‘s after the last noun in the group: • Example: Lisa and Mandy’s house. [Lisa and Mandy share one house. ] • For individual ownership when several nouns are used, add ‘s after each noun: • Example: Lisa’s and Mandy’s houses [ There are two houses. Lisa owns one house, and Mandy owns the other house. ]

Apostrophes: Pronouns never take apostrophes to show possession because they have their own possessive forms: its his hers yours theirs ours my mine whose Don’t confuse its (which is possessive) and it’s (which is a contraction of it is. ] Lakeland has its policy on plagiarism. When you always turn your work in late, it’s hard to get a good grade in the course.

Apostrophes: Contractions Use an apostrophe to indicate a contraction or omitted letters. Examples: I’m not the one who called you on the phone. Be careful not to confuse there, their, and they’re! They’re my cousins. [contraction of they are ] The house is over there. [indicates a place or direction] It is their right to protest. [a possessive pronoun] Who’s=who is Who’s going to run for president. Whose= Whose umbrella is it? the 1990 s [plural with no apostrophe]= ‘ 90 s [omitted letters]

Plurals and Possessives • Don’t confuse plurals and possessives. • Example: • Incorrect: The Jackson’s went to Florida. • Jacksons is plural, not possessive. Example: The house belonged to the Jacksons. It was the Jacksons’ house.

Hint: Using Apostrophes • 1. When you aren’t sure if you need the apostrophe, turn the phrase into an “of the “ phrase: • The day’s effort= the effort of the day • 2. When you aren’t sure whether the word is plural or not, remember this sequence: • First, write the word. • Then add the plural. • Then add the possessive marker. • Examples: • Cup ‘s the cup’s handle • Cups ‘ the cups’ handles

HYPHENS TO FORM COMPOUND WORDS Use hyphens to form compound words. Hyphens are used in fractions and numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine. If in doubt, look the word up in a standard dictionary. • mother-in-law thirty-six • Clear-cut two-thirds

HYPHENS TO JOIN WORD UNITS Use the hyphen to join two or more words that work together and serve as a single descriptive word before a noun. When the words come after the noun, they are NOT hyphenated!!! Don’t use hyphens with –ly modifiers. The office needs up-to-date furniture. The office needs furniture that was up to date. The repair involved a six-inch pipe. The repair involved a pipe that was six inches long. They brought along their nine-year-old son. They brought along their son, who was nine years old.

HYPENS TO JOIN PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND LETTERS TO A WORD Use hyphens between words and the prefixes self-, all-, and ex-. For other prefixes such as anti-, non-, pro-, and co-, use the dictionary as a guide. co-director self-supporting anti-abortion President-elect pro-American T-shirt D-day all-encompassing

HYPENS TO AVOID CONFUSION Use the hyphen to avoid double vowels and triple consonants: anti-intellectual (not antiintellectual) bell-like (not belllike) Use the hyphen to avoid confusion between words that are spelled alike but have different meanings: Re-creation (making again) vs. recreation (fun) Re-cover (to cover again) vs. recover (regain health Co-op ( something owned jointly) vs. coop (cage)

Dashes at the beginning or End of a sentence • Use the dash at the beginning or end of a sentence to set off an explanation. • Example: Fame, fortune, and a Ferrari— these were his goals in life. • Her acting gave an extra touch of humor to the play—some badly needed pizzazz.

Dashes to Mark an Interruption • Use the dash as an interrupter to mark a sudden break in thought, an abrupt change or surprise, or a deliberate pause. • Example: According to her way of looking at things—but not mine—this was a worthwhile cause.

Dashes to Set Off a Phrase Containing a Comma • When a phrase or clause already has a comma in it, you can use dashes to set off the whole word group. • Example: Hildy always finds interesting restaurants—such as Lettuce Eat, that health food place, and Ho Ming’s Pizza Parlor—to go to after a concert.

PARENTHESES TO SET OFF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL Use parentheses to enclose supplementary or les important material that you include as further explanation or added detail or examples: The officers of the fraternity (the ones elected last month) called a meeting just before the dance to remind everyone of the new alcohol regulations.

Slashes to Mark the End of a Line of Poetry • When you quote two or three lines of poetry within a paragraph, indicate the end of each line with a slash (with a space before and after the slash). Include the original punctuation and capitalization of the poem. Don’t use the slash if you indent and quote more than three lines of poetry. • Example: In his poem “Mending Wall, ” Robert Frost writes, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, / That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it. ”

Slashes to Indicate Acceptable Alternatives • Use the slash, with no space before or after it, to indicate the either of the two terms can apply. • Examples: • pass/fail and/or yes/no

PARENTHESES TO ENCLOSE FIGURES FOR LETTERS Use parentheses to enclose figures or letters that specify items in a series in a sentence or paragraph: The three major items on the agenda were (1) where to hold the party, (2) who to invite, and (3) whether or not to serve alcohol.

ELLIPIS (Omitted Words) Use an ellipsis (three spaced dots) to indicate that you are leaving out words or parts of a sentence from material you are quoting. If you are omitting a whole sentence or paragraph, add a fourth period with no space after the last word preceding the ellipsis: Original: According to William Bennett, “Legalization of drugs will give us the worst of both worlds: millions of new drug users and a thriving criminal black market” (225). Bennett claims that legalizing drugs will result in “. . . a thriving criminal black market” (225).

Parenthetical Citations • Author’s name given in the lead in: • According to Freud, “A dream is the fulfillment of a wish” (154). • Author’s name not given in the lead in: • One famous psychiatrist tells us that “a dream is the fulfillment of a wish” (Freud 154).

Plagiarism • 1. Using the exact words of someone without putting quotation marks around them. • 2. Just rearranging the words of your source without quoting word for word and using quotation marks. • 2. Changing the words of your source into your own words by paraphrasing or summarizing and not citing the source with a lead in and parenthetical citation. • Stating the ideas or research specifically attributed to another person or persons without citing the souce. Information and ideas that are widely known by the general public are considered “common knowledge” and do not need to have a documented source. 56 a 1 • Copying another person’s paper and passing it off as your

Quotation Marks: Titles Use quotation marks for titles of essays, articles, short stories, poems, chapters, songs, and episodes of a TV show. Examples: You ought to read Sharon Olds’ poem, “Sex Without Love. ” Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour, ” made me think of my mother’s life. * Note: commas and periods go inside quotation marks.

Quotation Marks: Dialogue Use quotation marks to indicate a speaker’s exact words or the exact words of a source from which you are quoting. Write each person’s speech, however short, in separate paragraphs. Examples: Mom said, “I’ll be late for supper tonight”; I decided to surprise her and make dinner. “May I help you? ” the clerk asked Sue. “No, thanks, ” Sue replied in a quiet voice. Robert Frost once said the following: “All there is to writing is having ideas. To learn to write is to

QUOTATION MARKS FOR WORDS Use quotation marks for words that are used as words, rather than for their meaning and for words used in special ways, such as for irony (when the writer means the opposite of what is being said). Quotation marks can also be used to introduce unfamiliar or technical words the first time they are introduced. “Cool” is a word I wish she’d omit from her vocabulary. The three-year-old held up his “work of art” for the teacher to admire.

USE OF OTHER MARKS OF PUNCTUATION WITH QUOTATION MARKS Put commas and periods inside quotation marks. When a reference follows the quotation, put the period after the parenthetical citation: “The Politics of Hunger, ” a recent article in Political Quarterly, discussed the use of military force to help victims of hunger. Brian said, “I never forget a face. ” Jenkins said, “Every good author’s style of writing derives from his particular form of wit” (252). According to one source, “Moshenberg’s style of writing derives from his particular form of wit” (Jenkins 252). Jenkins said that “every good author’s style of writing derives from his particular form of wit” (252).

ITALICS/UNDERLINING Use italics (or underlining) for titles and names of books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, works of art, long works such as plays, names of TV shows, movies, titles of albums, CDs, and DVDs. Catcher in the Rye Newsweek Plain Dealer The Matrix Beatles’ Greatest Hits

ITALICS/UNDERLINING Use italics or underlining for the names of ships, airplanes, and trains: Titanic Concorde Orient Express Use italics or underlining foreign words and phrases and scientific names of plants and animals: in vino veritas canis lupus carpe diem

ITALICS/UNDERLINING Use italics or underlining for words used as words or letters or examples or terms: Some words, such as Kleenex, are brand names for products. In English, the ph and f often have the same sound.

ITALICS/UNDERLINING DO NOT use italics or underlining for the following: Words of foreign origin that are now part of English: alumni cliché karaoke hacienda shtick

PL=PLAGIARISM Paraphrasing without using lead ins or parenthetical citations. See the example below: For someone to really understand who Santa really was, they have to back a few thousand years, back to 300 AD. Saint Nicholas was born in Patara to wealthy parents. His parents died later in his life and left him a large inheritance. He became Bishop of Myra and was known for his generosity toward others. On December 6, 343 AD, Saint Nick died. He was buried in his cathedral in Myra (Seals p. o. 1).

Same Quote—No Plagiarism • Introduce the paraphrase with a lead in, words of your own, so we know you are starting to paraphrase. End with a parenthetical citation. • According to the St. Nicholas Center website, for someone to really understand who Santa really was, one has to back a few thousand years, back to 300 AD. Saint Nicholas was born in Patara to wealthy parents. His parents died later in his life and left him a large inheritance. He became Bishop of Myra and was known for his generosity toward others. On December 6, 343 AD, Saint Nick died. He was buried in his cathedral in Myra (Seals p. o. 1).

Works Cited Bowen, James. “Thanksgiving Traditions. ” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2003 ed. “The First American Thanksgiving Began Long Before 1776. ” Thanks-giving Square Foundation. C 2000. http: //www. thanksgiving. org/2 us. html (1 Dec. 2005). Hak, Marianne. “Pilgrim’s Progress. ” Better Nutrition 65. 11 (2003): 54— 66. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost (30 Nov. 2005).

Angela’s Grammar Rule: • One student suggested the following grammar rule be added to this tutorial, “Put an apostrophe here, but not there except for when the moon is full, and put parentheses here except for when Jupiter’s moons appear. But most importantly, don’t forget to sacrifice a goat every time you want to misuse a comma” (Miloro 2).