Grammar Function Junction

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Grammar Function Junction
Dr. Jennifer Wunder
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20 Most Common Errors

• Missing comma after an introductory element
• Vague pronoun reference
• Missing comma in a compound sentence
• Wrong word
• Missing comma(s) with a nonrestrictive element
• Wrong or missing verb ending
• Wrong or missing preposition
• Comma splice
• Missing or misplaced possessive apostrophe
• Unnecessary shift in tense
• 11. Unnecessary shift in pronoun
• Sentence fragment
• Wrong tense or verb form
• Lack of subject-verb agreement
• Missing comma in a series
• Lack of agreement between pronoun and antecedent
• Unnecessary comma(s) with a restrictive element
• Fused sentence (run-on sentence)
• Misplaced or dangling modifier

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20 Most Common Errors
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Independent Clauses

• Have a subject and a verb
• Express a complete thought

I took the train to Atlanta. The train arrived
early. The train runs well.
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Dependent Words, Phrases, and Clauses

• May have a subject and verb
• Do NOT express a complete thought

Because I didnt want to drive If you take the
train Yesterday Behind the engine
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Hooking Em Up!
Independent Clause I took the train to Atlanta.
Dependent Clause Because I didnt want to drive
,
If you take the train you can save time and
money. Yesterday the train arrived
early. Behind the engine youll find the train
cars.
,
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Hooking Em Up!
Independent Clause I took the train to Atlanta.
Dependent Clause Because I didnt want to drive
,
If you take the train, you can save time and
money. Yesterday, the train arrived
early. Behind the engine, youll find the train
cars.
,
Error 1
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Hooking Em Up!
Independent Clause I took the train to Atlanta
Dependent Clause or Phrase rather than drive
there.
I did not take the train last week. My engine
pushes train cars as well as pulls them.
Error 17
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Connecting Independent Clauses
Independent Clause It is shiny red. It gets
the job done. It can haul a caboose.
Independent Clause My engine is small and
spunky. My engine is small and spunky. My
engine can haul yellow cars.
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Connecting Independent Clauses with Commas and
Conjunctions
Independent Clause , conjunction Independent
Clause
My engine is small and spunky, and its shiny
red. My engine is small and spunky. It gets the
job done. My engine can haul yellow cars. It can
haul a caboose.
, and , but , or
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Connecting Independent Clauses with Commas and
Conjunctions
Independent Clause , conjunction Independent
Clause
My engine is small and spunky, and its shiny
red. My engine is small and spunky, but it gets
the job done. My engine can haul yellow cars, or
it can haul a caboose.
, and , but , or
Errors 3, 8, 18
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Connecting Independent Clauses
Independent Clause It gets the job done. It
runs on bio-fuel. He laughs when he sees it.
Independent Clause My little engine can haul
anything. My little engine is efficient. My
nephew loves this engine.
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Connecting Independent Clauses with Semi-Colons
Independent Clause Independent Clause
My little engine can haul anything it gets the
job done. My little engine is efficient it runs
on bio-fuel. My nephew loves this engine he
laughs when he sees it.

Error 18
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Connecting Independent Clauses with Periods
Independent Clause This silly train is an
animated gif.
Independent Clause You can find this gif at Arg!
Cartoon Animations website www.artie.com.
This silly train is an animated gif. You can find
this gif at Arg! Cartoon Animations website
www.artie.com.
.
Error 18
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Connecting a Series of Cars
Dependent, Dependent, Independent Clause If the
engine tries, and if its in the mood, it can
haul a lot!
These train cars are red, green, and blue.
Errors 5 15
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Summary

• An independent clause has a subject and a verb
  and runs on its own
• A dependent clause may have a subject and a
  verb, but it cant run on its
• own
• Dependent word/phrase/clause, independent clause
• Independent clause dependent word/phrase/clause
  (No Comma Needed)
• Independent clause, and/or/but independent
  clause
• Independent clause independent clause
• Independent clause. Independent clause
• When you have a series of dependent phrases,
  adjectives, or such,
• connect them with commas

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Extra Resources
The 20 Most Common Errors Online
Tutorial http//bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everyday
_writer3e/20errors The 20 Most Common Errors
Online Exercises http//bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/
everyday_writer3e/exercisecentral/CLP_fragment.asp
?CLPfID138206 Exercise Central
Online http//bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/exercisece
ntral/