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Honors English 10
Grammar
Keep
Sentence Structure Basics
Laying the Foundation and Writers Choice
Conjunction - A conjunction links and relates two parts of a sentence.
 Coordinating Conjunctions –Coordinating conjunctions connect words or groups of words of equal
grammatical rank.
For And Nor But Or Yet So = FANBOYS
 Subordinating Conjunctions – A subordinating conjunction joins two clauses, or ideas, in such a
way as to make one grammatically dependent upon the other.
“We cheered the volleyball players because they were so glorious. Whenever they play, we want to
watch them. We can’t wait to see if they win again.
After
Because
Since
Where
Although
Before
So long as
Whereas
As
Considering
So that
Wherever
As far as
(that)
Than
While
As if
If
Though
As long as
Inasmuch as
Unless
As soon as
In order that
Until When
As though
Provided (that)
Whenever
Phrase – A group of words in a sentence that acts as a part of speech and is without subjects and verbs.
 Prepositional Phrase – A group of words that begins with a preposition and usually ends with a
noun or a pronoun, called the object of the preposition. (Take the elevator on the right. – Adjective
PP modifying the noun elevator. Which of these elevators is working? – Adjective PP modifying
the pronoun which. After the meeting you should take this elevator to the lobby. Two adverb PPs
modifying should take. The elevator is helpful to us. – Adverb PP modifying the adjective helpful.)
 Appositive Phrase – An appositive is a noun or pronoun that is placed next to another noun or
pronoun to identify or give additional information about it. An appositive phrase is an appositive
plus any words that modify the appositive. (Joanne rode a hydrofoil across the English Channel, the
body of water between England and France.)
 Verbal Phrases –
o Participial Phrases – A Participial is a verb form that functions as an adjective. Present
participial always end in –ing; Past participial ends in -ed. A participial phrase contains a
participial plus any complements and modifiers. (We saw John playing tennis.
Disappointed with his first serve, John vowed to improve his game. Graciously accepting
a trophy from the sponsors, he grinned at the crowd,)
o Gerund Phrase – A gerund is a verb from that ends in –ing and is used in the same way a
noun is used. A gerund phrase is a gerund plus any complements and modifiers. (Students
are responsible for mastering their subjects.)
 Present Participial: Listening to the radio, Yusuf worked fast. (Adjective phrase
modifying Yusuf)
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
Gerund: Listening to the radio helps Yusuf work faster. (Noun phrase acting as
subject)
o Infinitive Phrase – An infinitive is a verb form that is usually preceded by the word to
and used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. An infinitive phrase contains an infinitive
plus any complements and modifiers.
o To hike the Appalachian Trail is my sister’s dream. (Noun)
o We were eager to dress for the hike. (Adverb)
o We have a tendency to act too quickly (adjective)
o Every hiker needs to dress in appropriate clothing. (Direct object/noun)
Clause – A group of words that has a subject and a predicate/verb and is used as a part of a sentence.
 Main or independent
 Subordinate or dependent
 Adjective Clause – a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. (The horror story
that has always been my favorite is “The Black Cat.” Edgar Allan Poe is the only American
writer who always fascinates me. “The Black Cat,” which is written by Edgar Allan Poe, is
my favorite.)
 Adverb Clause – a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, and adjective, or an adverb. It tells
when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. (Before I took the test, I
studied hard. I was happy because I passed the test. I finished the test faster than Gerald did.)
 Noun Clause – a subordinate clause used as a noun. (Whoever lives on a farm eats homegrown food. – noun clause as subject.. A drought affects whatever grows outdoors. – noun
clause as direct object. Crops are fertilized with whatever will make them grow fast and
strong. – noun clause as object of preposition, “with.”)
Sentences – a group of words with a subject and a predicate / verb and that forms a complete thought.
 Simple – has only one main clause and no subordinate clauses
 Compound –has two or more main clauses
 Complex – has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses
 Compound / Complex – has more than one main clause and at least one subordinate clause.
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein,
(independent / main clause)
S
V
and her novel was made into a film
(independent / main clause)
S
V
because people were fascinated by the concept of the man-made creature. (dependent / subordinate clause)
S
V
 Types
o Declarative – makes a statement: The huge birds run fast
o Imperative – gives a command or makes a request: Look at the fleeing ostriches
o Interrogative – asks a question: Is that a lion chasing the ostriches?
o Exclamatory – expresses strong emotion: How ferocious the lion looks!
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