Punctuation Patterns

Independent Clauses

What is an Independent Clause??? Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences. Independent clauses do contain a subject and a verb.

How are they different from dependent clauses????? Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences because they can express a complete thought.

Examples of Independent clauses The band performed excellent at the game. The band has practice tomorrow. She loves music! I can’t help but tap my foot to the beat!

How to use Independent clauses: Independent clauses may be used alone as a sentence. Independent clauses may be used together when separated by a semicolon. Independent clauses may be used together when connected with a comma and a FANBOY. Independent clauses may be used together when connected with a semicolon, a BIGWORD, and a comma.

You will learn to use these formulas in the next few days with punctuation patterns.

Dependent Clauses

What is a Dependent Clause??? Dependent Clauses cannot stand alone as sentences. Dependent Clauses do contain a subject and a verb.

WHY????? Dependent Clauses do not stand alone as sentences because they don’t form a complete thought.

How can you identify a dependent clause? Dependent Clauses can often be marked by dependent clause markers.

Common Dependent Clause Markers After Although As As if Because Before Even though In order to Since Though Unless Until Whatever When Whenever Whether While

Examples of Dependent Clauses Because class ran over time today After she thought about it Whenever she sees him Even though she knows better

How to use Dependent Clauses: Dependent Clauses may be used at the beginning of sentences when followed by a comma and an independent clause. Dependent Clauses may be used at the end of the sentence preceded by an independent clause.

Punctuation Pattern #1 Punctuation patterns teach us to use independent and dependent clauses together. They show us how to eliminate comma splices, run-on sentences, and sentence fragments.

Independent clause, FANBOYS independent clause. Punctuation Pattern #1 Independent clause, FANBOYS independent clause.

What are the FANBOYS??? (Another word for a conjunction) SEVEN coordinating conjunctions For And Nor But Or Yet So

Coordinating Conjunctions Some words are happy staying alone. Some words are not happy until they have company. They are joiners. This is what a coordinating conjunction is! Conjunctions are connecting words that connect two parts of a sentence.

Independent clause, FANBOYS independent clause. I went to the store, and I forgot milk. For this comma to be correct, you must have a subject and a verb on both sides of the FANBOYS word, and each clause must be independent. I went to the store and forgot milk. No subject = no comma

Both underlined parts of the sentence can stand alone as sentences because they are independent clauses. With the addition of the comma and the coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) the sentence becomes grammatically correct.

Independent clause; BIG WORD, independent clause. Punctuation Pattern #2 Independent clause; BIG WORD, independent clause.

Independent clause; BIGWORD, independent clause. I went to the store; however,I forgot milk.

What is a BIGWORD? Independent word markers: Also Consequently However Moreover Therefore Nevertheless

Independent marker word Definition: A connecting word that is at the beginning of an independent clause. The words can begin a sentence that can stand alone. When these words come at the beginning of a sentence, put a comma after them since it is an introductory word. These words can also be used as interrupters and will need commas around them. When the second sentence is an independent clause, you can use a semicolon and a comma.

The familiar independent clause marker... Common Conjunctive Adverbs also incidentally next anyway indeed instead nonetheless still moreover therefore finally consequently likewise thus then meanwhile nevertheless however besides otherwise Common Transitional Phrases after all on the contrary in fact at any rate on the other hand for example by the way in addition in other words for instance as a result even so

Both underlined parts of the sentence can stand alone as sentences because they are independent clauses. With the addition of the semicolon and the independent clause marker (BIGWORD) and the comma, the sentence becomes grammatically correct.

Independent clause; independent clause. Punctuation Pattern #3 Independent clause; independent clause.

Independent clauses This pattern can only be used at certain times. The two independent clauses connected with a semicolon must be connected/related in some way.

Independent clause; independent clause. I went to the store; I forgot milk. James went to the store; he forgot milk. This word is always lower case.

Both underlined parts of the sentence can stand alone as sentences because they are independent clauses. With the addition of the semicolon the sentence becomes grammatically correct.

Dependent clause, independent clause. Punctuation Pattern #4 Dependent clause, independent clause.

Dependent clauses Dependent clauses are marked by dependent clause markers. Dependent clauses contain both a subject and a verb. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone due to the fact that they do not make complete thoughts.

The familiar dependent clause markers... After Although As As if Because Before Even if Even though If In order to Since Though Unless Until Whatever When Whenever Whether While

Dependent clause, independent clause. When I went to the store, I forgot milk. Dependent Clause Independent Clause

The italicized part of the sentence is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone. When the comma was added preceding the independent clause, the sentence became grammatically correct.

Independent clause dependent clause. Punctuation Pattern #5 Independent clause dependent clause. NO PUNCTUATION when the independent clause comes first

Independent Clause dependent clause. NO PUNCTUATION! I forgot the milk when I went to the store.

The underlined part of the sentence is an independent clause The underlined part of the sentence is an independent clause. The italicized part of the sentence is a dependent clause. By simply adding the dependent clause to the end of the independent clause it causes the sentence to be grammatically correct.