Grammar: Keys to being successful writers

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GrammarKeys to being successful writers

• Clauses
• Sentence fragments
• Commas
• Phrases

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Clausesgroup of words containing a Subject and a
Verb and is used as a part of speech

• Types
• Independent
• Dependent (subordinate)

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Independent clausescan stand alone.

• When removed from its sentence, an independent
  clause makes complete sense.
• It was a hot, sunny weekend, and all the beaches
  were packed.
• 2 independent clauses joined with a conjunction

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Dependent (Subordinate) clause

• Cannot stand alone because it is an incomplete
  thought.
• Still has a subject and verb, just doesnt make
  sense without the independent clause
• These are relative pronoun clauses and are also
  dependent clauses
• Whoever knows the song may join in. (essential so
  no comma)
• We sang Green Grow the Lilacs, which is my
  favorite song of the West. (nonessential so use
  commas)

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Conjunction Junction

• Independent clauses can be joined with
  conjunctions (FANBOYS)
• For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
• Dependent clauses may begin with subordinating
  conjunctions or relative pronouns
• Examples
• When I arrived at the bus stop, the bus was
  driving off.
• Whoever is in charge of the store must make the
  deposit at the bank.

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Subordinating Conjunctions

• In order that Where
• Provided that Wherever
• Since Whether
• So that While
• Than
• Though MEMORIZE
• Unless THESE!!!!!!!!
• Until
• When
• Whenever

• After
• Although
• As
• As if
• As long as
• As though
• Because
• Before
• If

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Punctuating Dependent Clauses

• When the dependent clause begins the sentence,
  (like in this one) the comma comes right after
  the clause.
• If you dont use a comma here, you create a Run
  On sentence
• You only need to use a comma after a dependent
  clause when it begins a sentence. (when it
  begins a sentence is the dependent clausenotice
  there is no comma b/c it comes in the middle of
  the sentence)

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Types of Sentences

• Simple
• Compound
• Complex
• Compound-complex

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Simple sentences(See Spot run! Go Spot go!)

• One independent clause and no subordinate clauses
• Great literature stirs the imagination.
• I. I. I. I.---a series of independent clauses

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Compound sentences

• Two or more independent clauses but no
  subordinate clauses
• Great literature stirs the imagination, and it
  challenges the intellect.
• Great literature stirs the imagination moreover,
  it challenges the intellect.
• Conjunctive Adverbs are used when joining two
  independent clauses of equal importance. One
  does not depend on the other. These are
  punctuated with conj. adverb ,
• I,conjunction Iconjuct.adverb,

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Conjunctive adverbs

• List of conjunctive adverbs
• Video on conjunctive adverbs

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Complex sentences

• One independent and at least one dependent clause
• Great literature, which stirs the imagination,
  also challenges the intellect.
• I D
• D, I
• I,D,I

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Compound-complex sentence

• Two or more independent clauses and at least one
  dependent clause
• May also use a conjunctive adverb
• Great literature, which challenges the intellect,
  is sometimes difficult moreover, it is also
  rewarding.
• I,D,I conj. adv, I

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Phrasesgroup of words NOT containing a subject
AND a verb

• Types of phrases
• Prepositional
• Participle
• Gerunds
• Infinitive
• Appositives
• Absolute

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Prepositional Phrases

• uses preposition and noun
• Adjective---prep. phrase modifies noun or pronoun
• Tucson has been the locale of many Westerns.
• Answers who, what or how many
• Adverb---prep. phrase modifies verb, adj. or adv.
• Tina exercises with care. how does she exercise
• Tina exercises before breakfast. when she
  exercises
• Answers how, when, where, to what extent or why

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Appositive (interrupter)noun or pronoun, often
with modifiers, set beside another noun or
pronoun to explain it further

• My brothers car, a sporty red hatchback with
  bucket seats, is the envy of my friends.
• They can also be found at the beginning or end of
  a sentence.
• Notice, an appositive is always set off by
  commas before and after the appositive.

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Infinitive Phraseverb form that begins with to
used as a noun or modifier

• To leave would be rude.
• No one wants to stay.
• Democrats expect Barack Obama to win the
  Presidential election.
• Dont confuse the to with the infinitive with
  the to of a prepositional phrase

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Participle Phraseverb form that can be used as
an adjective

• Verbal may end in ing or ed.
• Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river bank.
• Style Academy Video

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Absolute Phrase

• Contain a noun or pronoun and participle as well
  as modifiers
• Do not directly modify any specific word in the
  sentence BUT rather modify the entire sentence as
  a whole
• Always set off by commas or dashes

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Gerund Phraseverb form ending in ing that is
used as a noun

• Walking is a healthful exercise.
• Writing that thank-you letter was a good idea.

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Online Practice
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Quick Write Using the picture below, compose an
entry that enhances the imagery using the
following phrases participial, gerund,
infinitive, appositive, and prepositional
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• Holding a small child in her arms, the worried
  woman looked to the distance. Smiling was a rare
  occurrence for her these days, but to say she was
  depressed would be ironic. Her children, frail
  from a lack of nutrition, remain alive, which
  eases her through her days.

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Differences between a phrase and a clause
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The Comma

• Why can I never remember if I need a comma or
  not?
• Well, the human brain can only retain 7/-2 bits
  of information and there are several comma rules
  and sub-rules
• So lets review when we need a comma

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• Items in a Series
• Between independent clauses when a conjunction is
  used.
• Set off nonessential clauses or participial
  phrases
• Introductory elements
• Interrupters
• Dates and addresses
• Salutations
• After a name followed by Jr., Sr., PhD., etc

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Items in a Series

• 3 or more items need commas
• Do put a comma before the and at the end of the
  list of items (Oxford Comma)
• She had been to Paris, Rome, and Madrid
• Separate 2 or more adjectives preceding a noun
• She is a creative, intelligent executive.

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Joining 2 Independent clauses(2 complete
sentences)

• Use a comma and conjunction
• Comma always comes before the conjunction
• The first chapter is slow-moving, but the rest of
  the story is full of action and suspense.

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Subordinating Conjunctions

• After
• Although
• As
• As if
• As long as
• As though
• Because
• Before
• If

• In order that Where
• Provided that Wherever
• Since Whether
• So that While
• Than Whenever
• Though MEMORIZE
• Unless THESE!!!!!!!!
• Until
• When

When these begin a sentence, the comma comes
after the clause. When these are in the middle of
a sentence the comma comes before the
conjunction. Exceptions to the rule---typically,
because, since, or when in the middle of a
sentence need no comma
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WARNING

• When there are simply 2 verbs (like in a compound
  sentence) DO NOT use a comma
• The teacher called my parents and left a message
  on the voicemail.
• Notice there is not a second subject so
  there is not a second independent clause

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Nonessential Elements

• If part of the sentence (phrase or clause) is
  nonessential to the meaning of the sentence, it
  is considered an interrupter and should be set
  off by commas
• Carla Harris, who was offered scholarships to
  three colleges, will go to Vassar in the fall.
• BUT, if the phrase/clause is essential to
  clarifying the meaning, you do not use a comma
• New Orleans is the city which interests me most.

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Introductory Elements

• Use a comma after Well, yes, no, why, when they
  begin a sentence
• After a participial phrase
• Giggling like a child, he wrapped the last
  present.
• Notice---do not confuse a gerund that ends in
  ing acting as a subject with a participial
  phrase. Gerund has no comma after it.
• Painting my room was hard but fun.

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• If more than one prep. phrase starts a sentence,
  use a comma
• More examples
• After the game we all went to eat ice cream.
• With athletes in training, injuries are common.

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Interrupters

• Use with appositives
• An interview with John McCain, the Republican
  nominee for President, will appear Sunday in the
  Edwardsville Intelligencer, our local paper.

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Conventional uses

• Dates and addresses
• Write to me at 6161 Center Grove Road,
  Edwardsville, Illinois, 62025, after the first of
  the month.
• When only the month and day or month and year are
  used, DO NOT use a comma.
• After salutation
• Dear Ms. Haskins,
• After a name that has Jr., Sr., etc..
• Peter Grundel, Jr.
• Lorraine Henson, Ph.D.

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The Comma Song
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(No Transcript)