Grammar Tutorial
Example 2 Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction
Jackson was looking forward to retirement, for he was planning a trip to India.
Parenthetic Words
Parenthetic Words
"Each of the employees eat lunch in the company cafeteria."
When a subject contains two or more nouns or pronouns connected by or or nor, the verb must agree with the part of the subject nearest the verb. CFO is a singular noun, so the verb takes the singular as well.
Subjunctive Mood
A change in a verb that lets it express doubts, wishes, or hypothetical situations
Predicate
A verbal phrase that shows the action or indicates a state of being for the subject of the sentence
Subordinating conjunction
Conjunction used to introduce dependent clauses
Example 2 Compound Sentence with Semicolon
HR will be hiring a new administrative assistant; qualified applicants should submit their resumes by Friday, March 31.
Example 2 Compound Sentence with a Conjunctive Adverb
Louise is the most qualified candidate for the position; therefore, we should hire her.
Example 2 Simple Sentence
Mr. Green managed his firm with an iron grip.
Example 1 Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction
Salina wanted to join Toastmasters to improve her presentation skills, but the Toastmaster meetings were held at the same time as her company's executive briefings.
Example 1 Simple Sentence
The CFO felt that the merger would increase the company's share price.
"The finance committee is planning their vacations around the annual June meeting."
The finance committee is not acting as a unit. They will each take separate vacations. When group members act individually, use a plural verb. When the group acts as a unit, use a singular verb.
Compound Sentence with a Semicolon:
This compound sentence pattern consists of two independent clauses joined by a semicolon. Use this pattern when both independent clauses are of equal emphasis or when the second clause restates the first.
Verb Agreement with Subjects with Intervening Phrases
Verbs must always agree with the subject, even when there are intervening prepositional phrases or parenthetic words between the subject and the verb. When you encounter a sentence with an intervening phrase, find the actual subject by crossing out the intervening parenthetic or prepositional phrase. Common prepositions include about, at, by, for, from, of, and to. Subjects do not appear in prepositional phrases. See the following table for examples.
"Mr. Adams and his assistant was planning to attend the annual technology showcase."
When a subject contains two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural form of the verb. The subject in this sentence is Mr. Adams and his assistant.
"Neither the CEO nor the CFO have any recollection of the illegal funds transfer."
When a subject contains two or more nouns or pronouns connected by or or nor, the verb must agree with the part of the subject nearest the verb. CFO is a singular noun, so the verb takes the singular as well.
Conjunctive adverbs
Words that indicate that the following clause is an independent clause; they also work as transitional devices, allowing the writer to indicate the relationship between ideas in independent clauses. Some conjunctive adverbs use more than word: in fact, in contrast, as a result, that is
Which of the following sentences use the subjunctive mood correctly? Check all that apply.
1. Dr. Franklin wishes he were the one who had invented the new web application. 2. The CFO concluded that if it was clearly explained, the bookkeeper might stop withdrawing travel expenses from the wrong account. 3. If he were willing to submit the proposal, we might win the bid.
Which of the sentences below are correctly constructed?
1. Executive positions in many fields require advanced degrees, but this is not always the case. 2. However, you can make the necessary changes. 3. Advances in web interactivity have enabled design firms to more easily provide interactive portfolios; consequently, potential clients are able to view the firm's work before making contact.
A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined to form a single sentence.
A compound sentence may take one of several forms: a sentence with a semicolon, a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, or a sentence with a conjunctive adverb.
Collective Noun
A group of people or things considered as a unit
Dependent clause
A group of words that may contain a subject and a verb but does not contain a complete thought; a dependent clause is not a sentence
Subject
A noun of pronoun that controls the verb in a sentence
Subject
A noun or pronoun that controls the verb in a sentence
A dependent clause may look like an independent clause because it contains a subject a verb, but a dependent clause doesn't express a complete thought.
A sentence fragment occurs when a dependent clause is punctuated as a simple sentence. To fix the fragment, you can remove the subordinating conjunction, or you can add a comma and an independent clause to form a complete thought.
Simple sentences are sometimes referred to as a complete sentences.
A simple sentence is a single clause. An independent clause consists of a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought.
A word that is used to link words, phrases, or clauses
A word that is used to link words, phrases, or clauses
Coordinating conjunction
A word that joins words or words groups with the same grammatical structure
Example 1 Compound Sentence with a Conjunctive Adverb
Alex began putting money in his 401(k) in his early 20s; consequently, he will have financial security when he retires
What is an independent clause?
An independent clause consists of a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought.
Example: The executives at the technology conference were interested in new telecommunication business solutions.
Explanation: The executives is the plural subject of this sentence. At the technology conference is a prepositional phrase describing the location of the executives. It is intervening, or coming between, the subject and the verb.
Example: The franchise owner of three fast-food restaurants orders his produce through an online system.
Explanation: The franchise owner of three fast-food restaurants orders his produce through an online system.
Prepositional Phrases
Groups of words containing a preposition followed by a noun, often indicating time or location
Compound Sentences
Most errors in sentence structure occur inside compound sentences. Compound sentences consist of two independent clauses joined to form a single sentence. The independent clauses in a compound sentence may be joined together in a number of ways: with a semicolon, with a coordinating conjunction, or with a conjunctive adverb.
Example 1 Compound Sentence with Semicolon
Poor workplace communication practices have resulted in high turnover rates; we have replaced three administrative assistants in the last three months.
Plural
Referring to more than one person, place, or thing
Singular
Referring to one person, place, or thing
Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction:
This compound sentence pattern consists of an independent clause followed by a comma, a coordinating conjunction, and then another independent clause. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. Use this pattern when both independent clauses are of equal importance and you want to indicate the relationship between the two clauses.
Compound Sentence with a Conjunctive Adverb:
This compound sentence pattern consists of two independent clauses joined by a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb followed by a comma. Examples of conjunctive adverbs are therefore, moreover, thus, consequently, however, and also. Use this pattern when you want to clarify or comment upon the relationship between the ideas in two independent clauses.
Independent clause
consists of a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought
Common subordinating conjunctions
include after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while