Download Active Reading Strategies pages 43-55

Quick Grammar Lesson
Comp 1
Nine Parts of Speech
Noun – Person, Place or Thing
Verb – Indicates action or state of being
Adjective – Modifies/describes a Noun or Pronoun
Pronoun – Used in place of a Noun (I, you, he, that, somebody)
Adverb – Modifies a Verb, Adjectives, or other Adverbs. Often tell when,
where, why, or under what conditions something happens or happened.
Preposition –links Nouns, Pronouns and phrases to other words in the
sentence. (usually locates noun in time or space)
Conjunction – Connects words, sentences, or phrases together.
Interjection – Exclamatory word indicating emotion: Wow!
Article – A, An, The
Run-Ons
(Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more
independent clauses are joined without a punctuation
mark or a conjunction. Run-on sentences are also
known as fused sentences.
Some run-ons can be caused by a comma splice which
occurs when two or more independent clauses are
joined with a comma but without a conjunction (such
as and, or, but).
Run-Ons
(Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)
The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound
sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules:
1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating
conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS), and use
a comma before the connecting word.
_________________________, so
_________________________.
There was a big sale at Macy’s, so she decided to go to the mall
Run-Ons
(Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)
2. When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a
connecting word other than FANBOYS between the two
independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).
________________________;___________________________.
There was a big sale at Macy’s; Jen wanted to go to shopping.
or
________________________;
therefore,____________________.
There was a big sale at Macy’s; therefore, she wanted to go to the
mall.
Run-Ons
(Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)
3. You can simply separate the two sentences using a period.
________________________.__________________________.
She wanted to go to the mall. There was a big sale at Macy’s
4. You can combine the clauses appropriately by using a
subordinating conjunction.
________________________because____________________.
She wanted to go to the mall because there was a big sale at Macy’s
Run-Ons
(Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)
So, run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two
independent clauses which are joined together with no
connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.
Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were
detectives in disguise.
Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives
in disguise.
Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused
to decide.
Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too
confused to decide.
Punctuation
The Comma
is used to separate parts of a sentence from one another.
Commas, when used correctly, make your sentences clear and
help in comprehension. Use a comma with these sentence
rules:
1. Before a coordinating conjunction (fanboys) that joins
two INDEPENDENT clauses.
EX: The girl was sick, so she could not go to school.
Her house was old, and the windows were broken.
Punctuation
2. To separate three or more items in a series.
EX: Fishing, hunting, and camping are his favorite hobbies.
It snowed in Omaha, Iowa, and Kansas City.
Some writers choose not to use the comma before the
coordinating conjunction in a series however, sometimes it
can cause confusion in the reader:
EX: She packed all of her serving pieces, silverware and
bowls.
Punctuation
3. To separate two or more adjectives that modify the same
noun when they are not joined by a coordinating
conjunction.
EX: The tall, smart girl sits in the back of the room.
I drove the small, rusty car to California
The student was a sweaty, shaky, panicky mess.
These sentences do not work, why?
The child bounced the bright, green ball.
Five, flashy, sports cars passed me on the interstate.
Punctuation
4. To separate introductory words, phrases, and clauses from the
rest of a sentence
EX: Above, the sky was bright and clear.
When the bell rang, the students found their desks.
A comma is not needed if there is no chance of confusion
EX: Then a car ran the stop sign.
Punctuation
5. To set off a nonessential clause from the rest of a sentence. A
nonessential clause describes a specific word or phrase in a
sentence, but does not change the meaning or
understanding of who or what is being modified.
The man who ordered another double anchovy pizza claims
to have a pet dolphin in his backyard pool.
Jen, who ordered another double anchovy pizza, claims to
have a pet dolphin in his backyard pool.
Punctuation
6. To set off parenthetical expressions or transitional words that
begin the sentence.
EX: Therefore, the boy was grounded for two weeks.
EX: Horses, for example, usually only have one foal at a
time.
Punctuation
7. Dates, addresses, titles, and numbers
EX: We start school on August 4, 2011.
We start school in August 2011.
We start school on August 4, 2011, in Omaha.
EX: 485 Albert Way, Petaluma, CA 94952.
EX: The Instructor was Jen Lambert, Ph.D.
EX: The child counted to 10,000.
Punctuation
8. Direct quotations
EX: The old woman asked, “What is taking so long?”
EX: “Not too much longer,” the child answered.
Punctuation
Do Not Use a Comma:
1. Between a subject and a verb
1. Jen, was startled when the baby screamed.
2. Between a single adjective and the word it is describing
1. I need a blue, dress for the dance.
3. Right next to other punctuation
1. “Why doesn’t she like me?,” the girl demanded.
The Semicolon
A semicolon indicates a stronger pause than a comma but not as
strong as a period. A writer would use a semicolon:
To join two closely related independent clauses. Ex: Call me
tomorrow; I will give you my answer then.
To join two independent clauses linked by a transitional
expression. Ex: My students are very well behaved; therefore, they
will pass the class.
To separate items in a series if commas are already used within the
items. Ex: I’ve lived in Petaluma, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; and
Omaha, NE.
Use the semicolon between two sentences joined by a coordinating
conjunction when one or more commas appear in the first
sentence. Ex: When I finish here, I will be glad to help you; and
that is a promise I will keep.
Common Grammar Errors
Use a lot, not alot
(Note: This is a vague phrase.
Can you be more specific?)
Its is a possessive noun.
Example: Its windows are made of glass.
It’s is a contraction of “it is.”
Example: It is a lovely day outside.
Common Grammar Issues
Their is plural and possessive.
Example: Their house is always spotless.
There refers to a particular place.
Example: Please put the bowl over there.
They’re is the contraction of “they are.”
Example: They’re a very nice couple.
Common Grammar Errors
Do your nouns and verbs agree in tense
and number?
Check for homophones, words that sound alike bu
t mean different things.
Examples: affect/effect
accept/except
principal/principle