Sentence Structure

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Sentence Structure Punctuation
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Clauses

• Independent Clauses

• Dependent Clauses

• Phrase that is not a complete sentence
• Has a subject and verb but it cannot stand on
  its own
• Depends on another phrase to make it complete
• Clue words After, although, as, because, before,
  since, though, unless, whatever, whenever, while
• When Jim studied in Caribou for his chemistry
  test

• A complete sentence
• Contains a subject and verb, and presents a
  complete thought
• Can stand alone
• I walked down the street.
• I just bought a brand new bike.

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Making Sentences Linking Clauses

• Use conjunctions (as, if, but, because, for, nor
  , etc.)
• Use punctuation ( , --)
• Use a independent marker word
• Also
• Consequentially
• However
• Nevertheless
• Therefore

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Run-ons and Sentence Fragments
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Sentence Fragment

• Incomplete thoughts (dependent clause) are
  presented as sentences
• Because I forgot the exam was today.
• Because I am a good student.
• INSTEAD
• Because I forgot the exam was today, I didnt
  study.
• Because I am a good student, I finished my
  project early.

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Comma Splice

• Using a comma to separate two complete sentences
  (independent clauses)
• I like this class, it is very interesting
• To fix
• Make two separate sentences
• I like this class. It is very interesting.
• Change comma ( ,) to a semicolon ( )
• I like this class it is very interesting.
• Add a conjunction
• I like this class because it is very
  interesting.

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Run-On Sentence

• Occurs when two independent clauses are placed
  together without punctuation
• The sentences goes on and on and on without a
  pause (punctuation)
• Examples
• My teacher is intelligent Ive learned a lot
  today.
• Classical music is soothing I listen to it in the
  evenings.
• I thought she said that you were coming with us
  why arent you coming with us?

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Correcting Run-Ons

• Split into two separate sentences
• My teacher is intelligent. Ive learned a lot
  today.
• Classical music is soothing. I listen to it in
  the evenings.
• I thought she said that you were coming with us.
  Why arent you coming with us?
• Connect the two independent clauses with a
  semicolon ( )
• My teacher is intelligent Ive learned a lot
  today.
• Classical music is soothing I listen to it in
  the evenings.

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Correcting Run-Ons

• Connect with a comma and a FANBOYS conjunction
  (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
• My teacher is very intelligent, and Ive learned
  a lot today.
• Classical music is very soothing, so I listen to
  it at night.
• Make 1 clause dependent by adding a dependent
  word, such as since, when, after, as, while,
  because
• My teacher is very intelligent because Ive
  learned a lot today.
• I listen to classical music at night since it is
  very soothing.

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Comma Rules Punctuation
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Commas

• Dont take commas for granted. Theyre like
  yield signs that help separate your ideas and
  prevent pileups. If you ignore one, you could be
  in for a bumpy ride.
• Patricia OConnor
• Lets eat Grandma!
• Lets eat, Grandma!

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Comma Rules

• To separate 3 or more items in a series
• On Saturday, I did my laundry, washed my car,
  and cleaned my room.
• TRICK in a series, do you need and between
  each?
• Did my laundry and washed my car and cleaned
• YES? Use commas!
• Before FANBOYS, when the connect 2 clauses
• We wrote our journals in class, but our teacher
  forgot to collect them

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Comma Rules

• After an introductory expression, before a
  comment or question that is at end of sentence
• Finally, he was able to get through to his
  bankers.
• He said he needed to ruminate, whatever that
  means.
• Around the name of a person spoken to
• Did you know, Mr. Davis, that you left your
  computer at the library?

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Comma Rules

• Around expressions that interrupt the flow of the
  sentence
• Phrases however, therefore, of course, by the
  way, I believe, I think
• I know, of course, that this assignment is
  late.
• Todays test, I think, is only a practice test.
• Around additional information not needed in a
  sentence
• Interesting information, but the sentence can be
  understood without it (aka appositives)
• Katy, who organized the party, will buy the
  decorations.
• I am, as Im sure you can tell, very nervous
  about this.

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Addresses and Dates Commas?

• Addresses put a comma after every item
• She lived in Dallas, Texas (TX), when I met
  her.
• He lives at 223 Center Street, Dayton, Ohio.
• Dates
• No comma between month and day
• My birthday is February 16.
• Otherwise use a comma
• My aunt was born on Monday, October 25, 1980, in
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• If just month and day, no comma
• She graduated from college in May 1985.

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Other Punctuation Marks

• Semicolon ( ) flashing red
• Used to connect two independent clause, or to
  sort out a longer list, separate ideas
• Andys toupe flew off his head it sailed into
  the distance.
• Colon ( ) step on the brake
• After the introduction of a long list, quote, or
  item
• There is only one thing left to do now confess
  while you still have time.
• I plan to visit these sites in London Trafalgar
  Square, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
• Dash ( )
• Indicate an abrupt change of thought or emphasize
  something
• Super comma that separates something from
  sentence
• All four of themBob, Jeffrey, Jason, and
  Brettdid well in college.
• I found out todayor was it yesterday?that
  were moving.

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• Parentheses ( )
• Interruption in thought or speech adding details
• Jimmy thinks he has won the lottery. (He is
  mistaken however.)
• Ellipsis ( )
• Happens with an omission in the sentence, or a
  pause in thought
• Juan thought and thought and then thought some
  more.
• Hyphen ( - )
• Separates individual words or parts of words
• Mother-in-law two-thirds
• I have a red-haired brother.
• Quotation Marks ( )
• Sets off material that is quoted or spoken
  language or titles
• Periods and commas go inside quotation marks
  regardless of logic
• "I don't care," she said, "what you think about
  it."

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Misplaced Dangling Modifiers

• Modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more
  detail about a subject

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Misplaced Dangling Modifiers

• A word or phrase that is in the wrong place at
  the wrong time
• Describes the wrong thing
• Examples
• Strolling along the trail, Mount Rushmore came
  into view
• Born at the age of forty-three, the baby was a
  great comfort to Mrs. Wooster.
• After a ten-minute nap, the plane landed.

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How do we fix them?

• Keep the modifier as close to the word it
  describes as possible!
• The baby, born when Mrs. Wooster was
  forty-three, was a great comfort to her.
• Name the appropriate or logical doer of the
  sentence
• Make it the subject!
• Be clear about the doer of the sentence

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Lets Try

• After reading the original study, the article
  remains unconvincing
• After reading the original study, I found the
  article unconvincing.
• After a ten-minute nap, the plane landed.
• The plane landed after I took a ten-minute nap.
• Strolling along the trail, Mount Rushmore came
  into view.
• Mount Rushmore came into view as I was strolling
  along the trail.
• Having arrived late to practice, a written
  excuse was needed.
• Having arrived late to practice, the captain
  needed a written excuse.

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Parallel Structure (Parallelism)
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Parallel Structure

• Using the same pattern of words to show that two
  or more ideas have the same level of importance
• Talking, reading, writing
• To eat, to sleep, to repeat
• Makes writing more effectiveclearer and cleaner
• I like to hike, to ski, and to sail
• Ask not what your country can do for you, but
  what you can do for your country

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Parallel or not?

• Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bike.
• Doing my homework and doing my chores will take
  up most of my weekend.
• The teacher said he was a poor student because he
  waited until the last minute to study, completed
  his assignments too quickly, and lacked
  motivation.
• They came, they saw, they conquered.