Grammar Commas Quotations Semicolons Parallel Structure Possessives Fragments

Grammar Commas, Quotations, Semicolons, Parallel Structure, Possessives

Fragments Sentence fragments are groups of words that are punctuated as sentences but lack some element grammatically necessary to a sentence. – Phrase fragments NBC is broadcasting the debates. With discussions afterward. – Compound predicate fragments They sold their house. And moved into an apartment. – Fragments beginning with transitions Joan Didion has written on many subjects. Such as the Hoover Dam and migraine headaches. – Clause fragments When I decided to work part-time. I gave up some earning potential.

Fixing Fragments Just make sure that the sentence could stand on its own, that it would make sense if you walked into a room and shouted it out. NBC is broadcasting the debates with discussions afterward. They sold their house and moved into an apartment. Joan Didion has written on many subjects, such as the Hoover Dam and migraine headaches. When I decided to work part-time. I gave up some earning potential

Comma Splice and Fused Sentences A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only with a comma. – Joan finished singing, May started talking. Fused sentences or run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses are joined with no punctuation or no connecting word between them. – Joan finished singing May started talking.

Separating the clauses into two sentences The federal government contributes only 7 percent of public education costs, the rest comes from the states. The federal government contributes only 7 percent of public education costs. The rest comes from the states.

Linking the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction Interest rates fell, people began borrowing more money. Interest rates fell, so people began borrowing more money.

Linking the clauses with a semicolon This photograph is not at all realistic, it even uses dreamlike images to convey its message. This photograph is not at all realistic; it even uses dreamlike images to convey its message.

Recasting one independent clause as a dependent clause -- subordination Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of America’s major novelists, she died in obscurity. Although Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of America’s major novelists, she died in obscurity.

Exercise: Fix the following sentence fragments and run-ons The truck skidded on the rain-slick highway. But missed a telephone pole on the side of the road. Michelle tried each of the appetizers on the table. And then found that, when dinner arrived, her appetite was gone. Fred and Martha do most of their shopping through mailorder catalogs. Especially the J. C. Penney catalog. My grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C. – – Correct the above by inserting a period Correct the above by inserting a joining word Correct the above using a semi-colon Correct the above using subordination

Sentence Types Mama sentences – stand alone, take care of them selves Baby sentences – need help, can’t stand alone – Simple sentences = 1 mama Jane ate. – Compound sentences = 2 mamas Jane ate and Martha slept. – Complex sentences = 1 baby, 1 mama Jane ate while Martha slept. – Compound-complex sentences = 2 or more mamas and 1 or more babies Jane ate and Martha slept while Peter cleaned the garage.

An exercise The Scream, by Edvard Munch – Write one simple sentence about the scene. – Write one compound sentence – Write one complex sentence. – Write one compound-complex sentence.

Quotation Marks Periods and commas go inside closing quotation marks. – “Don’t compromise yourself, ” said Janis Joplin. “You are all you’ve got. ” Colons and semicolons go outside closing quotation marks. – I felt only one emotion after finishing “Eveline”: pity. Question marks, exclamation points and dashes go inside if they’re part of the quoted material, outside if they’re not. – What is theme of Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”? – “Who Let the Dogs Out? ”, a hit song by Baha Men, ws released in 2000.

Semicolons Link independent clauses – Immigration acts were passed; newcomers had to prove their ability to read. Link independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases – Every kid should have access to a computer; furthermore, access to the Internet should be free. Separate items in a series containing other punctuation – Anthropology encompasses archaeology, the study of ancient civilizations through artifacts; linguistics, the study of the structure and development of language; and cultural anthropology, the study of language, behavior and customs.

Parallel Structure All items in a series should be in parallel form – all nouns, all verbs, all prepositional phrases, etc. – The quarter horse skipped, pranced, and was sashaying onto the track. – The quarter horse skipped, pranced, and sashayed onto the track.

Parallel Structure Parallel structure works to make stronger connections between ideas. – I type in one place, but I do my writing in various locations in my house. – I type in one place, but I write all over the house. – Writers are often more interesting on the page than when you meet them in person. – Writers are often more interesting on the page than in the flesh.

Parallel Structure To clarify meaning – We’ll move to a town near the ocean or Mexico. – We’ll move to a town near the ocean or to Mexico.

Exercise: Parallel Structure The children ran down the hill, skipped over the lawn, and **went swimming in the pool. The wise politician promises the possible and should **accept the inevitable. Consult a friend **in your class or who is good at math.

Possessives Denotes ownership or possession – – Katherine Hepburn’s first movies are considered classics. – Anyone’s guess is as good as mine.

Plural Possessives Only add the apostrophe – if the plural ends in “s. ” – The clowns’ costumes were bright green and orange.

Its The only possessive that I know of that doesn’t use an apostrophe is “its. ” As in the dog turned over its dish when it wanted us to fill it. This is to keep us from confusing “it’s” (contraction for “it is”) with “its. ” As it when it’s time, the dog will be fed.

Commas To set off introductory elements – To win the contest, Connor needed courage. – Suddenly, Anisha remembered the answer. To separate clauses in compound sentences – Scientists have studied AIDS for more than twenty years, but a vaccine still eludes them. To set off nonrestrictive elements – The two drivers involved in the accident, who have been convicted of drunk driving, should lose their licenses.

Commas To set off parenthetical and transitional expressions – Ceiling fans, moreover, are less expensive than air conditioners. – Ozone is a byproduct of dry cleaning, for example.

Exercises: Commas Frank’s interests are Maria television and sports. To remove the cap of the aspirin bottle you must first press down on it. Sarah who is my next door neighbor just entered the hospital with a brain tumor. The wedding was scheduled for four o’clock but the bride changed her mind at two. “Don’t bend over to pat the dog” I warned “or he’ll bite you. Roy lives at 817 Cresson Street Detroit Michigan.