Grammar

Basic Building Block:

A Sentence....

• is NOT just a group of words beginning with a capital letter and ending with a period or question mark
• is also called an Independent Clause
• has 3 Primary Parts: a Subject (the actor), a Verb (the action), a complete thought (an independent idea).

POP QUIZ #1

John waited.

SENTENCE!

Go home.

SENTENCE!

Because his car was in the shop.

NAH!

Fragments...

• are incomplete sentences (aka NOT sentences)
• lack a subject, verb, or a complete idea.
• are Dependent/Subordinate clauses in need of support (i.e. an Independent Clause)

POP QUIZ #2

Fix-A-Frag!

• After the rain stops
• When you finally take the test
• If you want to go with me

Run-on Sentences...

• two complete sentences written together in one sentence without separating or combining them properly.
• are also called Fused Sentences or Comma Splices
• Example: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky.

Run-on Correction

1. Use a semicolon:
My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus; it is very garlicky.

2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (aka "FANBOYS" = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So): My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, for it is very garlicky.

3. Use a subordinating conjunction (because, so, although, however, that, which, etc.): My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus because it is very garlicky.

4. Make TWO complete sentences: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus. It is very garlicky.

STOP!

Mediterranean spread is humus. It is very garlicky.

You CANNOT simply add a comma between the two sentences, or you’ll end up with what’s called a “comma splice.” Here’s an example of a comma splice:

My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, it is very garlicky.

Questions, Thoughts, or

POP Quiz #3

Untitled Slide