GRAMMAR AND CONVENTIONS

SENTENCES There are 4 types of sentences: Simple sentences Compound sentences Complex sentences Compound-complex sentences

SIMPLE SENTENCES Simple sentences are sentences that have only one independent clause. EXAMPLE: Billy took the boys fishing after school. Today was hot and dry.

COMPOUND SENTENCES A compound sentence is a sentence made up of two or more simple sentences joined by a semicolon or a comma and the conjuctions AND, BUT, OR, NOR, FOR, SO and YET. It can contain two or more independent clauses. EXAMPLE: Gladis took the car to the mechanic, but she forgot to bring her checkbook.

COMPLEX SENTENCES A complex sentence is a sentence containing one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Relative pronouns and subordinating conjuctions are used to connect the sentences together. EXAMPLE: Because the lobby was filled with smoke, the elderly man could not enter the building.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX Compound-Complex sentences contain two or more compound sentences and one or more complex sentences. Example: Before we buy shoes, my mom looks for bargains, but sometimes we splurge.

COMMON ERRORS SENTENCE FRAGMENTS RUN-ON SENTENCES COMMA SPLICES

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS A SENTENCE FRAGMENT IS A COLLECTION OF WORDS THAT DOES NOT MAKE A SENTENCE EXAMPLE: All this year’s best peaches The best way back to the house

RUN-ON SENTENCES WHEN A COMMA IS USED IN THE PLACE OF A PERIOD, SEMICOLON, OR COMMA AND COORDINATING CONJUCTION (and but or for nor yet so) TO JOIN TWO COMPLETE SENTENCES, SOMETIMES ALL PUNCTUCATION IS OMITTED. EXAMPLE: Joseph went to school and the dog stayed at home

CORRECTING RUN-ONS USE TWO SENTENCES: Joseph went to school. The dog stayed at home. ADD A SEMICOLON: Joseph went to school; the dog stayed at home. ADD A COMMA AND COORDINATING CONJUCTION: Joseph went to school, but the dog stayed home

COMMA SPLICES PUNCTUATION ERRORS IN WHICH TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES ARE JOINED ONLY BY A COMMA, WITH NO COORDINATING CONJUCTION (and but or for nor yet so) EXAMPLE: You’re going to a concert, you can’t wear that

CORRECTING SPLICES USE TWO SENTENCES: You are going to a concert. You can’t wear that. ADD A SEMICOLON: You are going to a concert; you can’t wear that. ADD A COORDINATING CONJUCTION: You are going to a concert, but you can’t wear that. MAKE THE CLAUSES DEPENDENT You are going to a concert, you’d better not wear that.

PUNCTUATION COMMAS QUOTATION MARKS COLONS SEMICOLONS END PUNCTUATION

COMMAS SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES RESTRICTIVE PHRASES DIRECT ADDRESS BEFORE AND AFTER QUOTATIONS BETWEEN THE DATE AND YEAR AFTER STREET ADDRESS AND P.O. BOX

QUOTATION MARKS SIGNIFY A DIRECT QUOTATION AND INCLUDE PUNCTUATION MARKS INSIDE THEM

COLONS SEPARATE SERIES CLAUSES INDEPENDENT CLAUSES USED IN TIME-KEEPING

SEMICOLONS SPLIT INDEPENDENT CLAUSES THAT ARE: JOINED BY SENTENCE INTERRUPTORS JOINED BY COMMAS

END PUNCTUATION PERIODS EXCLAMATION POINTS QUESTION MARKS