Prepared by Bonnie StarttJanuary 28, 2013Tidewater Community CollegeVirginia Beach

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Clauses… Sentences…Punctuation

The first thing we learn in grammar is all about nouns (names a person, place, or thing) and verbs (an action or state of being), We start learning to talk with those nouns-- Mama, Daddy, Cookie Before long we add a few verbs: Go, Want Want cookie

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The beginning of writing:

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• The first type of clause is the INDEPENDENT clause. I read.

• The second type of clause is the DEPENDENT clause. Since I read.

• Did your head just tilt? There is a noun and a verb, but it is an incomplete thought. I would mark this as a FRAGMENT.

•The noun and verb combine to create a clauseThere are two kinds of clauses.

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•How do we use the clauses?An independent clause is a simple sentence.

• This does not mean if it is just a few words, it is a simple sentence.

• A simple sentence can have lots of things added to it.

• We add details…..• Here is a 239 word simple

sentence:• http://grammar.ccc.commnet

.edu/grammar/run-on.htm

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Start at the beginning:Simple Sentence• I read• I read books• I read funny books .• Adjectives• I read funny books to my

students. (Preposition/Prepositional Phrase)

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Next moveCompound Sentences• In spite of the fact that

simple sentences don't always need punctuation, we need to move forward in our writing. The next sentence type we are going to look at is the compound sentence.

• Simple + Simple= compound• Independent Clause +

Independent Clause = Compound Sentence

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Beware…..Compound Sentences• However, if we just put two

simple sentences/ independent clauses together, we can get a run on or fused sentence.

• I read a book it was dull. RO

• Give your reader a chance to take a breath. There are 3 ways to do this.

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Method ONE …..Compound Sentences• The first method only

needs one (1) thing/element to make it work correctly. We can put two simple sentences together using a semicolon (;).

• I have a dog; she is a Westie

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Method TWO…..Compound Sentences• This method must have two

(2) things/elements in order to make a compound sentence. We join two simple sentences using both a comma (,) and a coordinating conjunction. An acronym for coordinating conjunctions is FANBOYS which stands for FOR AND NOR BUT OR Yet SO.

• Our old dog Tony was sad, so we bought Maggie for him.

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Method THREE…..Compound Sentences• This method must have three (3)

things/elements in order to make a compound sentence. We join two

• simple sentences first using a semicolon (;) then a conjunctive adverb (fancy words =)

• (Conjunctive adverbs)and finally a comma (,). How about an easy to remember acronym: HOT MAMAS: However, on the...other hand/contrary, therefore, moreover, although, meanwhile, and yet (note- 2 of our coordinating conjunctions together), subsequently.

• Maggie swims with the kids; however, Tony used to swim laps with me.

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The Complex Sentence…..The dependent clause• We know all about using our

independent clauses, but how do we create a dependent clause? We take a plain old independent clause and add a Subordinating Conjunction. I like to call the subordinating conjunctions spoilers because they take a clause which can stand alone and turn it to one which needs help---cannot stand alone. Think about Bugs Bunny as you consider this acronym: WABITS--- Whenever, after, although, because. if, that (than though)since (so that).

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The Complex Sentence…..The dependent clause• Since I read.---this is a fragment.

• We have two options to fix the fragment; we can remove the subordinating conjunction, OR we can add it to an independent clause.

• When we combine a dependent clause with an independent clause, we get a complex sentence.

• Since I read a lot, I got a Kindle for Christmas.

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The Complex Sentence…..Funny punctuation rules• There are 2 ways to join the two

clauses. • IC and DC ; DC and IC• The difference between the two

methods is a simple comma. If you have the first type:

• I got a Kindle for Christmas since I read. You will see there is no comma between the clauses.

• If we go with the second method: • Since I like to read, I got a Kindle for

Christmas. It takes the comma.• IC DC. OR DC, IC.

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The Compound Complex Sentence…..This needs 3 clauses—2 IC ; 1 DC• When we are writing, we want to have

some variety in writing sentences. We use a few simple sentences and some complex sentences in our writing, but sometimes we need to be a bit fancier....... to show off a little. The best way to do this is to write a compound complex sentence..

• When Lee retired, our entire family all flew with him from Charlotte to New Bern; the fire trucks sprayed water over the plane when we left Charlotte. After Lee made a second pass over the airport, we landed in New Bern, and they sprayed water again. It was a special day for us although it felt funny to know while was his last flight, it was our Sophie's first flight; however, her Grandad let her sit in his lap in the cockpit after we landed.

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You need to make sure you know these rules----If you know these rules, you know most the most common punctuation rules.