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Inspirational Authorship with Joyce Ross & Patricia Connor
Grammar Lesson #3 - MARCH 1ST, 2016 Webinar
THE 8 PARTS OF SPEECH
Part Three: The Interjection and the Conjunction.
Taking the mystery out of the PUNCTUATION DANCE
Part Three: The Comma.
Inspirational Authorship Lesson: Write Tight(er)
Misspelled words.
Incorrect punctuation.
I will not eat this homework.
In case we haven’t met, I’m
Grammar Dog. This lesson will last
about an hour.
Don’t worry about memorizing every term
and grammar rule mentioned. Simply being
aware of the terminology, punctuation
choices, and grammar nuances will improve
your writing.
You’ll also be better equipped to study
grammar on your own. Dog forbid you
look like Joyce did when she first studied
clauses.
What the heck is a clause, and why are
some clauses subordinate? Is there
also an insubordinate clause?
Joyce, Joyce, Joyce. The only insubordinate
clauses on the planet work for Santa. However,
to correctly punctuate sentences, you need to
be able to tell the difference between a main
clause and a subordinate clause.
Main
Clause
Subordinate
Clause
A main clause is also called an “independent” clause because
it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: Joy went crazy.
A subordinate clause is also called a “dependent” clause
because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: After Joy went crazy …
(Another clause is needed to make this sentence complete.)
In case you haven’t met (subordinate
clause), this is my feline friend, Silly
Cat (main clause). She thinks
everything's hilarious.
Now that you’ve met my grammar
family (subordinate clause), let’s review
the eight parts of speech (main clause).
English Grammar rules are based on
on the eight parts of speech.
In the previous two webinars, we explored the functions of the
noun, the verb, the pronoun, the adjective, the adverb, and the
preposition. In this grammar lesson, we’ll study the interjection and
the conjunction.
FYI: Previous grammar lessons and Inspirational
Authorship lessons can be viewed under the
“Webinar Lesson Videos” tab at:
http:// w ww.heartmindeffect.com
Remember: Being aware of the functions
of the eight parts of speech will help you
construct clearer sentences that are
correctly punctuated. Let’s quickly review
the first six.
The 8 Parts of Speech
REVIEW
A noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place, thing, or an abstract idea.
A verb is a word used to convey an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs tell
us what nouns are doing or experiencing.
A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun.
(Pronouns include: (I, me, we, us, her, him, it, you, they, them, mine, yours, hers, his, its, ours, theirs, this, these,
that, those, who, whom, which, what, whoever, whomever, whichever, and, whatever.)
An adjective describes, identifies or quantifies a noun or pronoun.
An adverb adds information (how, when, where, in what manner, or to what extent) about a
verb. An adverb can also modify an adjective, another adverb, or a whole sentence.
The preposition shows the relationship between a subject and an object.
Examples: The money is on the table. Let’s meet before noon. You look like your mother.
Let’s explore the
interjection; it’s the most
emotional of the eight parts
of speech.
An interjection is an uttered sound, word, or phrase that expresses
a sudden or strong feeling (disgust, joy, excitement, etc.).
Examples:
“No, go away.”
“Yikes!” How did that happen?”
“I spilled my drink. Oops.”
“Good grief! Is this grammar lesson on the eight parts of speech ever
going to be over.”
Note: A sudden expression of emotion doesn’t automatically necessitate the use of an
exclamation point. Experienced writers favor strong prose over exclamation points.
Note: An interjection is separate from the rest of the sentence. As
such, a punctuation mark either precedes or follows an
interjection.
Examples:
“No, go away.”
“Yikes!” How did that happen?”
“I spilled my drink. Oops.”
The final part of speech we’ll explore is
the conjunction. A conjunction is a word
that joins together (conjoins) clauses,
phrases, or words.
Before we study the conjunction, let’s look at
the difference between a phrase and a clause.
Trust me; when we study comma placement
later in this webinar, you’ll be thankful you
know these two simple grammar terms.
A phrase is a conceptual group of words
without a subject-verb component; i.e.,
there isn’t a noun (subject) performing an
action (verb).
Examples:
After the devastation …
Broken into a million pieces …
For ten days …
… with the blue shirt
A clause is a group of words that includes a
subject and a verb; i.e., there is someone or a
thing performing an action.
Examples:
He collapsed.
The table collapsed.
The dog collapsed.
The dog collapsed.
Yikes! I hope I didn’t
jinx one of my
littermates with the
last example.
Important: Even when joined with a
dependent clause or another independent
clause, an independent clause could stand
alone as a complete sentence.
Examples:
She hugged the cat, and it collapsed.
She hugged the cat. It collapsed.
She hugged the cat; it collapsed.
The cat collapsed. I
like this example
better. The poor cat
was probably being
chased by one of my
littermates. Lol.
FYI: Here’s how I remember the definition
of an independent clause. I’m an
independent dog; i.e., I don’t need
another dog’s claws pawing at me to feel
complete. Did you catch my pun? Lol. I’m
hilarious, right?
Remember: Although it contains a subject and
a verb, a dependent clause cannot stand
alone; it needs an independent clause to be a
complete a sentence.
Dependent clauses often begin with such words
as although, since, if, when, while, and because.
Examples:
Although she found him attractive,
If that happened,
When you talk like that,
While you’re away,
In case you’re wondering, both independent and
dependent clauses can contain one or more
objects, and more than one verb or subject.
Example:
Because Tom and Jerry want and need to
know about the dangers of crossbreeding
(dependent clause), I’ll explain why they
shouldn’t marry a hippopotamus, a giraffe,
or a kangaroo (independent clause).
Remember: A group of words
without a subject-verb component
is a phrase, not a clause.
It’s time to put on your thinking cap.
We’re about to explore the conjunction,
the eighth and final part of speech.
A conjunction is a word that joins together (conjoins) clauses,
phrases, or words.
1. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS are used to join individual words, phrases,
and independent clauses.
2. SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS connect an independent (main) clause to a
dependent (subordinate) clause.
3. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS link two independent clauses.
4. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS are paired conjunctions that link balanced
words, phrases, and clauses .
To ensure that you don’t get as
confused as Joy did when she
studied conjunctions, in this
webinar we will only exam the
nuances of the first two types—
the coordinating conjunction
and the subordinate
conjunction.
CONJUNCTION TYPE #1:
Coordinating Conjunctions are used to join
individual words, phrases, and independent
clauses. They include: and, but, or, nor, for,
so, yet.
CONJUNCTION TYPE #1: Coordinating Conjunctions are used to join individual words,
phrases, and independent clauses. They include: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.
GRAMMAR SEMINAR
Taking the Mystery Our of the
Punctuation Dance
Saturday, February 27
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fairmont Hotel
Somewhere St., Vancouver, B.C.
Sidestep the
wrath of grumpy
grammar purists—
Enroll today!
$500 includes lunch.
Examples of a Coordinating Conjunction Joining
Individual Words:
You and Silly Cat should go to the grammar seminar.
It is an expensive but necessary seminar.
Note: Except for the terminal periods, punctuation is not needed in
the above examples.
CONJUNCTION TYPE #1: Coordinating Conjunctions are used to join individual words,
phrases, and independent clauses. They include: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.
GRAMMAR SEMINAR
Taking the Mystery Our of the
Punctuation Dance
Saturday, February 27
Examples of a Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Phrases:
Grammar Dog or her assistant will attend the seminar.
Grammar Dog and her assistant Silly Cat are both excited
about attending the seminar.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fairmont Hotel
Somewhere St., Vancouver, B.C.
Sidestep the
wrath of grumpy
grammar purists—
Enroll today!
$500 includes lunch.
Note: Except for the terminal periods, punctuation is not needed in
the above examples.
Finicky Comma Rule: If Silly Cat was Grammar Dog’s only assistant,
this circumstance would be indicated with commas; i.e., the
sentence would then be written as: Grammar Dog and her assistant,
Silly Cat, are both excited about attending the seminar.
1. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS are used to join individual words, phrases,
and independent clauses. They include: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.
Example of a Coordinating Conjunction Joining Independent
Clauses:
“A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of
it is absolutely fatal.”
—Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist,
essayist, and poet. In the early 1890s, he was one of London’s most popular
playwrights. He is most remembered for his epigrams; his only novel, The Picture of
Dorian Gray; his plays, the most famous being The Importance of Being Ernest; and
his imprisonment and early death.
TIDBIT: An epigram is a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and
amusing way. A short witty poem, especially a satirical one, with an ingenious ending
is also called an epigram.
The Picture of Dorian Gray was Oscar Wilde’s only novel. It
was first published in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott's
Monthly Magazine. Without Wilde’s knowledge, fearing the
story was indecent, the magazine’s editor deleted roughly
five hundred words before publication. Despite that
censorship, the book offended British book reviewers.
The Picture of Dorian Gray exists in several versions. The
revised, longer version was published in book form in 1891.
In it, Wilde included a preface defending artist’s rights and
the aphorism: art for art’s sake. The preface became famous
as an artistic manifesto.
The original production of The Importance of Being
Earnest in 1895 with Allan Aynesworth as Algernon
(left) and George Alexander as John (right).
1. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS are used to join individual words, phrases,
and independent clauses. They include: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.
Examples of a Coordinating Conjunction Joining Independent Clauses:
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile
is the beginning of love.”
—Mother Teresa
“Water is the softest of all things, yet it is the most
powerful. The ocean patiently allows all things to flow
into it. It is always flexible.”
—Dr. Wayne Dyer
CONJUNCTION TYPE #2:
Subordinate CONJUNCTIONS indicate a
connective relationship between a
dependent (subordinate) clause and an
independent (main) clause.
You already know the difference between main and
subordinate clauses. However, as both terms are
used in the definition of a SUBORDINATE
CONJUNCTION, let’s review their definitions.
Main
Clause
Subordinate
Clause
A main clause is also called an “independent” clause
because it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: Joy went crazy.
A subordinate clause is also called a “dependent” clause
because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: After Joy went crazy …
(Another clause is needed to make this sentence complete.)
2. SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS indicate a connective relationship between a dependent
clause and an independent (main) clause.
Subordinate conjunctions include: after, although, as, because, before, if, once, since,
than, that, though, til, until, when, where, whether, and while.
Examples:
Although he claimed to be happy, Grammar Dog appeared sad.
If possible, go ahead without me.
Their lives became complicated after Grammar Dog adopted Silly Cat.
All was fine until Silly Cat decided to study grammar.
2. SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS connect an independent (main) clause to a dependent
(subordinate) clause. Subordinate conjunctions include: after, although, as, because,
before, if, once, since, than, that, though, til, until, when, where, whether, and while.
Although he claimed to be happy, Grammar Dog appeared sad.
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
+
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
After Tom married Gerry, their lives became complicated.
2. Subordinate CONJUNCTIONS connect an independent (main) clause to a dependent
(subordinate) clause. Subordinate conjunctions include: after, although, as, because,
before, if, once, since, than, that, though, til, until, when, where, whether, and while.
Their lives became complicated after Grammar Dog adopted Silly Cat.
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
+
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
All was fine until Silly Cat decided to study grammar.
We’re about to study the
comma. In case you’re falling
asleep, this red slide should
help to wake you up.
2 INDEPENDENT CLAUSES + COORDINATING CONJUCTION
A comma is used between independent clauses when they are joined by a
coordinating conjunction. (Remember: An independent clause can stand alone.)
Hint: Memorizing the seven coordinating conjunctions—
and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet—will help you correctly punctuate sentences.
“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the
beginning of love.”
—Mother Teresa
2 INDEPENDENT CLAUSES + COORDINATING CONJUCTION
A comma is used between independent clauses when they are joined by a
coordinating conjunction. (Remember: An independent clause can stand alone.)
Hint: Memorizing the seven coordinating conjunctions—and, but,
or, nor, for, so, yet—will help you correctly punctuate sentences.
“Water is the softest of all things, yet it is the most
powerful. The ocean patiently allows all things to flow into
it. It is always flexible.
—Dr. Wayne Dyer
Weird comma rules ahead. You might
want to put on your thinking cap.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it.
Example: If you are not sure about this, say so now.
HOWEVER…
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE
A comma is usually unnecessary when the sentence starts with an
independent clause followed by a dependent clause.
Example: Say so if you are not sure about this.
X
Remember: A dependent
clause at the beginning of a
sentence cannot stand alone; it
needs a comma crutch.
When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it.
Although he claimed to be happy, Grammar Dog appeared sad.
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
+
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
After Tom married Gerry, their lives became complicated.
Their lives became complicated after Grammar Dog adopted Silly Cat.
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
+
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
All was fine until Silly Cat decided to study grammar.
A comma is usually unnecessary when the sentence starts with an
independent clause followed by a dependent clause.
X
Their lives became complicated after Grammar Dog adopted Silly Cat.
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
+
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
X
All was fine until Silly Cat decided to study grammar.
Order Switch: Begin the sentence with the subordinate clause (instead of the
independent clause) and a comma is required. How weird is that?
After Grammar Dog adopted Silly Cat, their lives became complicated.
Subordinate Clause:
Cannot stand alone as
a complete sentence.
+
Main Clause:
Can stand alone as a
complete sentence.
Until Silly Cat decided to study grammar, all was fine.
Next grammar lesson, we’ll study
conjunctive adverbs and correlative
conjunctions, the last two types of
conjunctions. Before we move on to our
“Write Tight(er) lesson, here’s a cute riddle.
Do you know why the number 7 is more dependent than the number 8?
Because when you take 8 away from 7, it becomes the negative one.
Inspirational Authorship Lesson: Write Tight(er)
Avoid Wordiness
Compare the following examples.
Wordy: I got in my car, and drove to the gym.
Better: I drove to the gym.
Best: At the gym ...
Wordy: I was born and raised in a small Ontario town called Cobalt, where it seemed like just
about everyone worked in the local coal mines, including my father.
Better: I grew up in the small town of Cobalt, Ontario, where almost everyone, including my
father, worked as coal miners.
Best: I’m from the small mining town of Cobalt, Ontario. (Unless a fact adds to the story, it’s
irrelevant and should be omitted.)
Avoid Roundabout Phrases
Use a single verb over a roundabout phrase.
Compare the following examples.
Grammar Dog did not remember to feed Silly Cat.
Grammar Dog forgot to feed Silly Cat.
To make certain that she didn’t forget again, Grammar Dog set her alarm.
To ensure she didn’t forget again, Grammar Dog set her alarm.
Silly Cat did not pass the grammar exam.
Silly Cat failed the grammar exam.
Silly Cat didn’t realize that studying was important.
Stilly Cat overlooked that studying was important.
X
Use Adjective Sparingly
An adjective describes, identifies or quantifies a noun or pronoun.
Compare the following examples.
Wordy: She was a wee, tiny girl with cascading curly, ash-blonde hair that ran all the way
down her back.
Better: She was a tiny girl with curly, ash-blonde hair that cascaded down her back.
Best: She was a tiny girl with cascading curly, blonde hair.
Wordy: The soup-like air hanging over the city was so densely thick it could choke a chimney.
Better: The soup-like air hanging over the city could choke a chimney.
Best: The city air was chimney-choking thick.
You can take off your thinking cap; our
lesson is finished.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Webinars are every other
Tuesday.
Next Webinar
Tuesday, March 15th
MARCH 15, 2016
THE 8 PARTS OF SPEECH
The Conjunction (Part Two)
Taking the mystery out of the PUNCTUATION DANCE
Part Four: More about the comma.
Inspirational Authorship: The Paragraph Sandwich
Midnight in Paris
Written & Directed by Woody Allan
Starring Owen Wilson Rachel McAdams
Gil (Owen Wilson) is a successful but dissatisfied Hollywood screenwriter.
He and his fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), are vacationing in Paris with
her wealthy parents. Gil is writing his first novel which is about a man who
runs a nostalgia shop. Gil dreams of moving to Paris are openly ridiculed by
his fiancée and her family.
Gil is also an ardent admirer of a group of ex-patriot writers Gertrude Stein
dubbed the “Lost Generation.” During the 1920s, this Lost Generation of
writers left the United States to take part in the literary culture of cities
such as Paris and London.
One evening, Gil wanders the streets of Paris alone and gets lost. When he
stops to rest, an antique car pulls up. The passengers invite Gil to join them
for an evening on the town, which he does. When they enter a bar, Gil
realizes that he’s been transported to the 1920s
While partying, Gil encounters Cole Porter (Yves Heck), Josephine
Baker (Sonia Rolland), and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Alison Pill and Tom
Hiddleston). They take him to meet Ernest Hemmingway (Corey Stoll) and
Hemmingway agrees to show Gil’s novel to Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates).
Excited, Gil leaves the bar to fetch his manuscript and is returned to 2010.