Complex Sentences

Correct Fragments by:

1) add what is missing (subject, verb) 2) attach the fragment to the sentence before or after it.

Compound Sentence

2 or more simple sentences joined by 1) comma and one of the FANBOYS, 2) semicolon or 3) semicolon and transitional. Example: I like to study grammar: therefore, I love this class.

Dependent Clause = Subordinate Clause

contains a subject and a verb. Begins with a subordinating conjunction and thus does not express a complete thought. Example: Because I like to study grammar

Comma Splice

created when 2 complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined together by only a comma

Run-On

created when 2 complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined together incorrectly without the proper punctuation and are written as one sentence.

Complex Sentence

a simple sentence (indepenedent clause) to which a dependent clause (part of a sentence) has been added. Example: Because I like to study grammar, I love this class .

Subordinating Conjunction = dependent word

after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, whenever, in order that, now that, once, rather than, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, in case, where, whereas, whenever, whether, which, while.

Fused Sentence

Created when 2 complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined together without ANY punctuation

Coordinating Conjunction = FANBOYS

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

2 Types of Run-Ons

Fused sentences and Comma Splices

Sentence Fragment = Incomplete Sentence

Group of word that looks like a sentence but is missing a subject, verb or a complete thought

Simple Sentence = Independent Clause

Has one subject and one verb, expresses a complete thought and ends with a period or semicolon. Example: I like to study grammar.

Trouble Spots:

A word group that starts with 1) a preposition 2) dependent word (subordinating conjunction) 3)-ing verb form 4) to and a verb 5) an example (such as..)

Avoiding Sentence Fragments

Be alert for strings of prepositional phases that never get around to establishing a subject verb relationship.

Independent Clause Punctuation

Semicolons are only used between 2 independent clauses.

Dependent Clause Punctuation

Since dependent clauses are only part of a sentence,you can never connect them to another sentence with a semicolon.

Correcting Run-Ons:

between 2 independent clauses add: 1) a period 2) a semicolon 3) a comma and a coordinating conjunction or 4) a dependent word