Download 1. A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete

1. Sentence: A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought.
2. Simple Sentence: A simple sentence has one subject and one predicate. (ex. Saturn is a very large planet.)
“Saturn” is the subject. The predicate is the rest of the sentence that follows the subject; “is a very large planet.”
However, a simple sentence may have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both. (ex. Saturn and Jupiter
are the two largest planets in our solar system. (compound subject i= 2 subjects and 1 predicate). (ex. Juan and
Luis throw and catch the softball.(compound subject and compound predicate=2 subjects and 2 predicates).
3. Compound Sentence: A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences joined by a comma and a
coordinating conjunction or by a semicolon. Conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for. (ex. Robins sing in the
morning, but you can hear owls at night.)
4. Subject Verb Agreement: A singular subject demands a singular verb; a plural subject demands a plural verb. That
is the simple principle behind subject-verb agreement. (ex. The kangaroo jumps. - singular). (ex. The kangaroos
jump. –plural) (kangaroo(s) is the subject and jump(s) is the verb) Indefinite pronouns such as everyone and
everybody feel plural to some writers, but they are always singular — and take a singular verb. (ex. Everyone
associated with the project is proud to be part of the effort.)
5. Simple Subject: A simple subject is the key or main noun or pronoun that tells what the sentence is about. (ex. The
four new students arrived early.) Complete Subject: The complete subject is the main word and all its modifiers.
(ex. The four new students arrived early.) A Compound Subject is made up of two or more simple subjects that are
joined by a conjunction and have the same verb. (ex. Moths and bugs fly nearby.)
6. Simple Predicate: A simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase that expresses the essential thought about the
subject of a sentence. (ex. Sara’s sister took us bowling yesterday.) The Complete Predicate is the verb and all its
modifiers.(ex. Sara’s sister took us bowling yesterday.) A Compound Predicate is made up of two or more verbs or
verb phrases that are joined by a conjunction. (ex. Pete stretched and exercised for an hour.)
7. Apostrophe: The apostrophe is used to create possessive forms for singular and plural nouns, especially nouns
referring to people. (ex. the mayor’s car, my father’s moustache). When a noun already ends in “s,” you can decide
whether or not to use another “s” after the apostrophe. (ex. Charles’s car OR Charles’ car). With multisyllabic
words, don’t add another “s” after the apostrophe. (ex. Dumas’ second novel, Jesus’ birth). To form the possessive
of a plural noun, we pluralize first and then add the apostrophe. (ex. The Kennedys’ house. The children’s
playhouse.)
8. Capital: Capitalize the first word of every sentence — unless that sentence is in parentheses incorporated within
another sentence. [ex. Glacial till or debris (some geologists call this material “garbage”) is often deposited in
formations called morains]. Capitalize the personal pronoun I. Capitalize the names of family relations when they
are used as substitutes for names. (ex. I went to visit my Uncle Ted and Aunt Margaret. –or- Grandma and
Grandpa live with Dad and Mom now.) In titles, capitalize the first, last, and all important words. (ex. In the Lake
of the Woods) (War and Peace). Capitalize names of specific persons, places, and geographical locations. (ex. My
brother Charlie, who used to live in the Middle East and write books about the Old West, now lives in Hartford,
Connecticut.) Capitalize names of days of the week, months, and holidays. (ex. Monday, Tuesday, May, June,
Christmas, Halloween). Capitalize the names of historical events. (ex. The Battle of the Bulge was an important
event during World War II.) Capitalize the names of religions and religious terms. (ex. Christianity, God, Jews,
Muslims). Capitalize the names of nations, nationalities, languages, and words based on such words. (ex. Somalia,
Swedish, English muffin, Irish stew). Capitalize the names of academic courses when they’re used as titles. (ex. He
took Carpentry 101, but he did much better in his economics and English literature courses.) Capitalize brand
names like Nike, Advil, Kleenex etc…
DON’T capitalize directions. (ex. They moved up north, to the southern shore of Lake Erie.) Don’t capitalize the
names of seasons. (ex. I cannot wait for summer vacation.) Don’t capitalize “white” and “black” when referring to
race. (ex. The community is diverse with many black and white families.)
9. Colon: The colon comes at a point in the sentence where the sentence could come to a complete stop but then
continues. These are the two main uses of the colon: to set off a list or an explanation that we know is about to
follow the main part of the sentence. (List ex. I’m going to tell you the names of my favorite breakfast foods:
cornflakes, oatmeal, grits and gravy, and yogurt on toast.) (Explanation ex. Our math tutor wants just one thing
from us: that we try our best.) We also use the colon to set off a formal quotation. (ex. My father was always using
his favorite quotation from Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”) Just remember that you know what is going to
follow a colon: a list, an explanation, or a formal quotation.
10. Comma: Use a comma to set off the elements of a series (three or more things), including the last two. (ex. My
favorite uses of the Internet are sending e-mail, surfing the Web, and using chat rooms.) Use a comma to set off
elements that express a contrast or a turn in the sentence. (ex. The house was cute, but too expensive for the
newlyweds.) Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) to separate two
independent clauses. (ex. The public seems eager for some kind of gun control legislation, but the congress is
obviously too timid to enact any truly effective measures.) If the two independent clauses are brief and nicely
balanced, this comma may be omitted, but the comma is always correct. (ex. Our team is very good but their team is
better.) Use a comma to set off introductory elements. (ex. Anxious about the upcoming winter, settlers began to
bicker among themselves about supplies.) If the introductory element is brief and the sentence can be read easily
without the comma, it can be omitted. (ex. In 1649 the settlers abandoned their initial outpost.)
Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. (ex. Coaches grew weary of running practices in the drafty, dreary,
dilapidated gymnasium.) Use a comma to set off states and countries, years (in a full date), titles, etc. (ex. Their
wedding date was set for August 5, 2000, in the college chapel in Newton, Massachusetts. Tashonda Klondike,
Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, submitted the committee’s final report.) Use a comma to set off quoted
language. (ex. “Fire when ready, Gridley,” the Admiral said.)
11. Semicolon: Use a semicolon to join parts of a compound sentence when a conjunction such as and, but, or or is
NOT used. A semicolon is used to join parts of a compound sentence when the main clauses are long and are
subdivided by commas. (ex. The thunder sounded louder; the downpour was only minutes away. Mom’s
birdfeeders, all fourteen of them, constantly needed to be refilled; but our yard had more sparrows, chickadees,
and robins than any place in town.)
12. Noun: A word that names a person, place, or thing. Types of nouns are: Common Nouns (boy/girl), Proper Nouns
(John/Mary), Singular Nouns (boy/girl), Plural Nouns (boys/girls), Singular Possessive Nouns (boy’s/girl’s),
Plural Possessive (boys’/girls’)
13. Verb: A word that expresses action or otherwise helps to make a statement. Types of verbs are: Action verbs
express mental or physical action. (ex. He rode the horse to victory.) Linking verbs make a statement by
connecting the subject with a word that describes or explains it.(ex. He has been sick.)
14. Pronoun: The pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns. It may stand for a person, place, thing, or
idea. Types of pronouns are: Personal Pronoun (I, me, mine, she, he, they, we, us, myself, yourself, etc), Indefinite
Pronouns (anybody, each, either, none, someone, one), Demonstrative Pronouns (this, that, these, those),
Interrogative Pronouns (who, what, whom, which, whose).
15. Adjective: Modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. Answers these questions: Which? What kind? How many? (ex.
Did you lose your address book? Is that a wool sweater? Just give me five minutes.)
16. Adverb: Modifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Answers these questions: How? When?
Where? To what degree or how much? (ex. He ran quickly. She left yesterday. We went there. It was too hot.)
Interrogative Verbs introduce questions. (ex. How did you break your leg? When does your plane leave? How
often do you run? Where did you put the mouse trap?
17. Preposition: A preposition introduces a noun or pronoun or a phrase or clause functioning in the sentence as a
noun. The word or word group that the preposition introduces is its object.
(ex. They received a postcard from Bobby telling about his trip to Canada.) [from & about are the prepositions.]
The preposition NEVER stands alone.
18. Conjunction: A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words. (ex. and, but, or, either, neither, nor)
19. Interjection: An interjection is an exclamatory word that expresses emotion. (ex. Wow! Look at that sunset!
Goodness! What a cute baby!)
20. Clause: A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. There are two types: independent and
dependent clause. Independent: A clause that can stand by itself and still make sense. An independent clause could
be its own sentence, but is often part of a larger structure, combined with other independent clauses and with
dependent clauses. Dependent: A clause that cannot stand by itself. It depends on something else, an independent
clause, for its meaning. A dependent clause trying to stand by itself would be a sentence fragment. Clauses is what
helps you build sentences. Using them correctly can help you avoid sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
21. Fragment: A sentence fragment tries its best to be a sentence, but it just can’t make it. It’s missing something.
Often, it’s missing a verb or part of a verb string: (ex. John working extra hard on his hook shot lately.) Here, for
instance, we’re missing an auxiliary — has been, in this case, probably — that would complete the verb string and
the sentence. (ex. John has been working extra hard on his hook shot lately.)
(ex. Spending hours every day after school and even on weekends.)-This time we’re missing a whole verb.
“Spending” is a participle wanting to modify something, but there is no subject-verb relationship within the sentence.
(ex. Sarah was spending hours every day after school on her project and even worked on weekends.)-better
22. Participle: is a verbal that functions as an adjective. Present Participles end in –ing. Past Participles end in –ed. (ex.
running, swimming- twisted, melted). Verbal: A verbal is a verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb. A Verbal Phrase is a verbal and other words that completes its meaning. (ex. The squeaking
floor board gave me away. The twisted tree was ancient.)
23. Run-on Sentences: A run-on sentence is one in which two clauses have been connected incorrectly. Let’s think of
an independent clause as an independently operated train headed west . . . getting connected to another train headed
east. It will not work!
24. Comma Splice: A comma splice connects two independent clauses with only a comma. Avoiding the comma splice
will help you avoid the run-on sentence. (ex. Some students think they can study for an important exam by
“cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.) [incorrect sentence]
Three Ways to Avoid the Comma Splice:
1. We can insert a period and start a new sentence. (ex. Some students think they can study for an important
exam by “cramming” all night. They are probably wrong).
2. We can insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. (ex. Some students think they can study for an
important exam by “cramming” all night, but they are probably wrong.
3. We can use a semicolon. (ex. Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all
night; they are probably wrong.)
Three Run-on Traps: [incorrect]
1. When a pronoun in the second clause refers to a noun in the first clause: (ex. The President’s popularity has
plummeted, she apparently underestimated the opposition.)
2. When a suggestion or directive occurs in the second clause: (ex. You will be responsible for this material on
the final exam, study it thoroughly now.)
3. When two clauses are connected by a transitional expression: (ex. Many people think protectionism can halt
rising prices, however, the opposite is actually true.)
Fixing Trapped Run-ons [correct]
1. The President’s popularity has plummeted, and she apparently underestimated the opposition.
2. You will be responsible for this material on the final exam. Study it thoroughly now.
3. Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices; however, the opposite is actually true.