English: Conjunctions, Comma Usage, Prepositions

What is the acronym that helps remember the main coordinating conjunctions?

FANBOYS

Is the following a dependent or independent clause? Since she started jogging

dependent (She feels healthy since she started jogging. This would be independent.)

(After, Before) I stepped out the front door, it started raining.

After complex (subordinating conjunction)

A _________ is also used to set off introductory words like 'yes', 'no', 'well', or 'oh'.

Comma

Where would commas go in the following sentence?

Do you want to meet my new puppy, Rascal, before you leave?

Where would the comma go in the following sentence? Lucy whispered quietly "Go call the police."

Lucy whispered quietly, "Go call the police."

Where would the commas go in the following sentence? There were pencils papers books and erasers all over the floor.

There were pencils, papers, books, and erasers all over the floor.

Where would the comma go in the following sentence? Yes I want to go to the movies with you!

Yes, I want to go to the movies with you!

Many prepositions are 'position' or 'location' words like up, down, or beside. Can you think of other 'position' or 'location' words that would be prepositions?

above, below, over, under, in, at, on, off

She's my best friend, (and--but) she's my sister.

and compound

When two independent clauses are joined together by a coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence, a ______ must always be used before the 'FANBOYS' conjunction.

comma ex: I like pizza, and I like spaghetti.

A/an _____________ clause can stand alone and has a subject and a predicate.

independent

What do we call the kind of conjunction that joins an independent clause with a dependent clause to create a complex sentence?

subordinating

Where would the comma go in the following sentence? "I think I broke my arm" Sally moaned.

"I think I broke my arm" Sally moaned.

Comma placement: Remember, compound sentences must have a coordinating conjunction with a comma before it. Complex sentences have a subordinating conjunction, but there is ONLY a comma if the conjunction BEGINS the sentence. Where does the comma go in the following sentence? Do you want to see a movie or do you want to go bowling?

Do you want to see a movie, or do you want to go bowling? (compound)

Where would the commas go in the following sentence? I like pepperoni mushrooms and extra cheese on my pizza.

I like pepperoni, mushrooms, and extra cheese on my pizza.

Comma placement: Remember, compound sentences must have a coordinating conjunction with a comma before it. Complex sentences have a subordinating conjunction, but there is ONLY a comma if the conjunction BEGINS the sentence. Where does the comma go in the following sentence? I love dogs but I'm not so crazy about cats.

I love dogs, but I'm not so crazy about cats. (compound)

Where would commas go in the following sentence? Mrs. White my English teacher is good at her job.

Mrs. White, my English teacher, is good at her job. ('my English teacher' is a noun phrase that describes Mrs. White.)

Where would commas go in the following sentence? Nashville the capital of Tennessee is a beautiful city.

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, is a beautiful city.

Comma placement: Remember, compound sentences must have a coordinating conjunction with a comma before it. Complex sentences have a subordinating conjunction, but there is ONLY a comma if the conjunction BEGINS the sentence. Where does the comma go in the following sentence? I have to finish my chores before I can go out.

No comma! The subordinating conjunction (before) starts a dependent clause in the middle of the sentence. If it were written this way, you would use a comma: Before I can go out, I have to finish my chores.

Where would the comma go in the following sentence? Oh I thought you were ready to go.

Oh, I thought you were ready to go.

Comma placement: Remember, compound sentences must have a coordinating conjunction with a comma before it. Complex sentences have a subordinating conjunction, but there is ONLY a comma if the conjunction BEGINS the sentence. Where does the comma go in the following sentence? Since she lost her phone Mary can't get my text messages.

Since she lost her phone, Mary can't get my text messages. (complex)

List some common subordinating conjunctions.

Since, because, before, after, when, if, although, unless, until (There are more, but these are some common ones you can review.)

Where would the comma go in the following sentence? Well I really wanted chocolate ice cream.

Well, I really wanted chocolate ice cream.

Comma placement: Remember, compound sentences must have a coordinating conjunction with a comma before it. Complex sentences have a subordinating conjunction, but there is ONLY a comma if the conjunction BEGINS the sentence. Where does the comma go in the following sentence? When you finish eating we will go to the mall.

When you finish eating, we will go to the mall. (complex)

Choose the correct conjunction and tell if the sentence is compound or complex. My sister is a great swimmer, (and--but) she has a fear of deep water.

but compound (coordinating conjunction)

In a complex sentence where the subordinating conjunction starts the sentence, a _______ must be used at the end of the dependent clause .

comma ex: If we don't leave now, we will be late for school ('If' is the subordinating conjunction that begins the dependent clause 'If we don't leave now'.)

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. You must use ______ around the noun or noun phrase that renames.

commas ex: John, my best friend, is great at archery.

A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause forms a _________ sentence.

complex

Two independent clauses joined together with a comma and a conjunction form a ___________ sentence.

compound

What do we call words that connect related ideas, join phrases and sentences together, and create compound and complex sentences?

conjunctions

What do we call the kind of conjunction that joins two independent clauses to create a compound sentence?

coordinating

A/an ______ clause CANNOT stand alone.

dependent

Is the following a dependent or independent clause? When he leaves for work

dependent (You're waiting to hear more, right? It's not complete!)

Can you write a sentence that uses an appositive? Try it and show an adult to see if you did it correctly!

examples: Soccer, my favorite sport, it a rough sport. Susie, my best friend, is moving to a new city. We are going to pick up my cousin, Leo, at the airport tomorrow morning.

What are the coordinating conjunctions that the letters in fanboys stand for?

f-for a-and n-nor b-but o-or y-yet s-so

Is the following a dependent or independent clause? Susie sat still.

independent

Is the following a dependent or independent clause? The house is quiet when he leaves for work.

independent

Commas are used with quotations. If you tell the quote before you tell who said it, the comma goes (inside/outside) the quotation marks. If you tell who said a quote before you tell the quote, the comma goes (inside/outside) the quotation marks.

inside "I like buttery popcorn," said John. outside Susie yelled to her friend, "I need help!"

Is a comma used when the coordinating conjunction begins a dependent clause in the middle of a complex sentence?

no We will be late for school if we don't leave now. ('If' is in the middle of the sentence and begins the dependent clause, 'if we don't leave now'. No comma!

A ________ is any word or group of words that relates a noun or a pronoun to another word in the sentence.

preposition

A comma is used to separate ____ or more items in a series.

three

Choose the correct conjunction and tell if the sentence is compound or complex. She bought a small car, (but--yet) it's surprisingly roomy.

yet compound (coordinating conjunction)