Taking the Gr out of Grammar Avoiding Major

Taking the Gr out of Grammar Avoiding Major Sentence Errors

The Basics What is a clause? A group of words containing a subject, a verb with tense, and an object if needed. à Edward followed Bella. Clause? à Edward following Bella. Clause? à Following Bella. Clause à To get Jacob out of the way. Clause? à Because he is much more handsome. Clause?

Definitions There are two types of clauses: Independent and Dependent. Independent clauses, or ICs, can be sentences by themselves. Dependent clauses, or DCs, cannot be sentences by themselves. Edward followed Bella. Because he was a vampire.

A couple of other notes Dependent clauses (DCs) usually begin with a subordinating conjunction (or SC). Because, while, after, since, although, if

The BIG 3 A comma splice: IC, IC. My father studied at Samford University, my mother attended the University of Alabama. A run-on or fused sentence: IC IC. My father studied at Samford University my mother attended the University of Alabama. Fragment: DC. When my mother attended the University of Alabama.

FIXING the Comma Splice and Run-on There are 3 basic ways to correct a comma splice or a run-on: 1. With a coordinating conjunction (CC) 2. With a conjunctive adverb (CA) 3. With a semi-colon (; ) Let’s look at each of these.

Compounds with Coordinating Conjunctions Pattern: IC, cc IC. IC = independent clause cc = coordinating conjunction Please notice that there is a comma BEFORE the conjunction

The Pattern Illustrated My father studied at Samford University, and my mother attended the University of Alabama. The first independent clause is in PURPLE. The second independent clause is in RED. AND is a coordinating conjunction. Notice the comma BEFORE the conjunction!

Coordinating Conjunctions There are SEVEN coordinating conjunctions that you can use in this pattern. Most people remember them with the word FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Warnings! Remember: If you are going to correct a comma splice or run-on with a Coordinating Conjunction (CC), you must use a comma before the conjunction. I saw the movie but, I didn’t like it. The comma is in the WRONG place! Correct: I saw the movie, but I didn’t like it.

Pattern #2 IC; CA, IC. IC = independent clause CA= conjunctive adverb ; is a SEMI-COLON. Notice the punctuation: a semi-colon comes before the CA, and there is a comma after it.

Pattern #2 Illustrated I studied at Baylor University; however, I completed my graduate work in South Carolina. Independent clause one is in RED. Independent clause two is in GREEN. HOWEVER is a conjunctive adverb.

Warnings Don’t use a comma with a conjunctive adverb! WRONG: This class is quite a challenge, however, I am sure I will pass. RIGHT: This class is quite a challenge; however, I am sure I will pass.

Warnings Don’t use a semi-colon with a coordination conjunction (the FANBOYS of pattern #1): Wrong: This class is quite difficult; but I will pass. Right: This class is quite difficult, but I am sure I will pass.

One more caveat A conjunctive adverbial ONLY requires a comma when it is used to connect ICs. If a CA occurs at the beginning of a single IC, or if it interrupts a single IC, it is marked only with a comma. I attended Baylor. However, my husband attended Samford. My daughter, however, is attending Hollins University.

REMEMBER! Pattern #1: Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS) IC, CC IC. Pattern #2: Conjunctive Adverbs IC; CA, IC.

Pattern #3 We can also join two independent clauses with a semicolon: IC; IC. The class is quite difficult; I will have to work very hard in order to pass.

Review How can I fix the following RUNON sentence? Carol celebrated her graduation she thoroughly enjoyed herself. (HINT: first identify the two independent clauses). How about this one? Carol celebrated with her friends then her mother surprised her with a trip to Tahiti.

Editing Practice, continued Pattern #1: Carol celebrated her graduation, and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Pattern #2: Carol celebrated her graduation; as a result, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Pattern #3: Carol celebrated her graduation; she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Notes You must choose a pattern carefully: a semi-colon alone only works IF the two clauses are closely connected in an obvious way. Also, using different conjunctive adverbs can change the meaning of the sentence, so be careful!

What about fragments? Find the fragments: My daughter is attending Hollins University. Which is a school for women only in Roanoke. Some people believe that there are no men at all on campus, but this isn’t the case. Although there are no men in the undergraduate programs. Men can attend the graduate programs in creative writing. In addition, there are male professors for several courses. Including the Shakespearean and Greek tragedy course which she is taking this term.

Fixing Fragments You can fix most fragments in two ways: 1. Add what is missing OR 2. Connect the fragment to an IC Notes: If the fragment is not a clause, we usually use commas to connect it to the IC. Never use a semi-colon to connect fragments to Ics.

Comma rules for DCs If you have a dependent clause (DC) which begins with an SC (subordinating conjunction), follow these basic rules: DC, IC. Although there are no male undergraduates, there are male graduate students. IC DC. Men choose the Hollins graduate program because it has a great reputation for creative arts.

Corrected paragraph My daughter is attending Hollins University, which is a school for women only in Roanoke. Some people believe that there are no men at all on campus, but this isn’t the case. Although there are no men in the undergraduate programs, men can attend the graduate programs in creative writing. In addition, there are male professors for several courses, including the Shakespearean and Greek tragedy course which she is taking this term.

So… what? Remember these? IC= independent clause DC = dependent clause SC = subordinating conjunction CA = conjunctive adverbial CC = coordinating conjunction

Correct Forms IC, cc IC. IC; ca, IC. DC, IC. (The DC begins with an SC) IC DC. (The DC begins with an SC).

Mistakes IC IC. Run-on IC, IC. Comma Splice. DC. Fragment.