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Learn about sentence parts, including phrases and clauses, and common sentence problems such as fragments, comma splice sentences, and run-on sentences in expository writing. Practice identifying and correcting these issues to improve your writing skills.
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BBI 3421 EXPOSITORY WRITING (PPG) FACE-TO-FACE (PART TWO)
Content • Sentence Parts • Sentence Problems • Fragments • Comma splice sentences • Run-on sentences • Topics for Exam
Sentence Parts • Phrases • Clauses
Phrases • A phrase is a group of words that is not a sentence. • May consist of a subject or a verb but not both. • leaving behind the car • before the first test • broken into thousands of pieces • because of her glittering smile • was taking place • an extreme sport
Clause • A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (verb).
Clause • There are 2 kinds of clauses: • Independent clause • Dependent clause
Independent clause • Contains a subject and a verb (sometimes with a complement) • Expresses a complete thought • Stands alone as a sentence by itself
Identifying Independent Clauses • The doctor told Charlie to lose weight and exercise vigorously for forty-five minutes a day. • The doctor was worried that Charlie was putting on too much weight. • Charlie has a hard time sticking to a diet; he really loves rich, sweet desserts. • Charlie has decided to hire a personal trainer because he is worried about his heart. • His new personal trainer, whose name is Adriana Bongiorno, thinks Charlie may be a lost cause.
Identifying Independent Clauses • The doctor told Charlie to lose weight and exercise vigorously for forty-five minutes a day. (one) • The doctor was worried that Charlie was putting on too much weight. (doctor was worried) • Charlie has a hard time sticking to a diet; he really loves rich, sweet desserts. (two) • Charlie has decided to hire a personal trainer because he is worried about his heart. • His new personal trainer, whose name is Adriana Bongiorno, thinks Charlie may be a lost cause.
Dependent clause • Begins with a subordinator such as when, while, if, that, who. • Does not express a complete thought • Not a sentence by itself. • Sometimes called sentence fragment.
Sentence Problems • Fragments • Comma splice sentences • Run-on sentences
Fragments • Incomplete sentences or parts of sentences. e.g: Because some students work part-time while taking a full load of classes. This is a dependent clause. It begins with a subordinator. It does not express a complete thought because there is no independent clause.
Fragments Because some students work part-time while taking a full load of classes, they have very little free time. To correct: • Add an independent clause. 2. Delete the subordinator (because). Some students work part-time while taking a full load of classes.
Fragments This is a noun + an adjective clause (who give too much homework). The noun is the beginning of an independent clause that was never finished Teachers who give too much homework. Teachers who give too much homework…….. To correct: Finish the independent clause. Teachers who give too much homework are unpopular.
Fragments The sentence has no verb To live and work for at least a year in a foreign country To correct: Add a verb. To live and work for at least a year in a foreign country has always been my dream.
Tips • A sentence must have a subject, have a verb, and express a complete thought. • The "ing" form of a verb is not a true verb unless it is preceded by a helping verb. • The "to" form of the verb (the infinitive) is not a verb. e.g. Leaving the clothes outside to dry. She is leaving the clothes outside to dry. Leaving the clothes outside to dry, she quickly went to the supermarket to buy groceries.
Practice In July 2001, flash floods swept through the southern portion of West Virginia. Damaging up to 3,000 homes and causing over $20 million in damage. Likely the most costly flood in West Virginia's history. According to one report, the flooding left the downtown area of Kimball a "row of broken windows and caved-in store fronts caked in mud." The storms caused mudslides. Washing out bridges and streets, leaving yards caked with mud. The storms that devastated West Virginia having followed two months of heavy rainfall.
Practice The storm waters filled the streams. Winding through the area's narrow valleys. Ordinarily the Guyandotte River runs only six inches deep. Not on Sunday. It ran 20 feet deep. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a casket floating down the street. Others recalling recreational vehicles and mobile homes floating in front of them. According to MSNBC, the July floods killed one person in West Virginia and three in Kentucky. Though flooding after heavy rains is common in this mountain region. A number of residents blame the timber and coal industries for the severity of recent floods and mudslides. An assertion these industries deny. Arguing that the flooding has not corresponded to mining locations. An assistant state forester, Ed Murriner, suggested that forest fires may have also contributed to the problem. Since they burn away leaves and destroy vegetation on forest floors that typically absorb water.
Run-on • A sentence in which two or more independent clauses are written one after another with no punctuation. • “Fused sentences” e.g. My family went to Australia then they emigrated to Canada I think that the people who run the cafeteria should consult the students more about what they want, the food would be better that way.
How to fix a run-on sentence • Add a period. My family went to Australia. Then they emigrated to Canada • Add a semicolon. My family went to Australia; then they emigrated to Canada • Add a coordinator. My family went to Australia, and then they emigrated to Canada • Add a subordinator. My family went to Australia before they emigrated to Canada
Practice • My father retired from the Air Force last year he is writing a book about his experiences. • My family reunion is in three months I wonder if everyone will be there. • A fifth-grade student from our school won the spelling competition; she spelled words I had never heard before. • Most of my study time is spent on biology it's my toughest class. • I've missed several classes because I was ill I hope I will pass English class. • Jeff is planning on going to Las Vegas for vacation; he'll need to take a lot of money.
Comma Splice • When two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. e.g. My family went to Australia, then they emigrated to Canada. We should go on a picnic this Saturday, I know the perfect place.
Comma Splice vs Run-on • A comma splice is two sentences (two independent clauses) joined by a comma. e.g.Leon studied hard, he passed SPM with flying colours. • A fused sentence is two sentences joined without a comma. e.g. Leon studied hard he passed SPM with flying colours.
Comma Splice Comma splices can be corrected in the following three ways: 1. They can be corrected with a period. Leon studied hard. He passed SPM with flying colours. 2. They can be corrected with a conjunction (and, since, because, although, if, while, when). Since Leon studied hard, he passed SPM with flying colours. Leon passed SPM with flying colours since he studied hard. 3. They can be corrected with a semicolon. Leon studied hard; he passed SPM with flying colours.
Comma Splice • Here is a list of common conjunctions. after if who what although since which though as where that while because until how unless before and where but Correct the following sentences in three ways. For each sentence, which one do you prefer? • People are wearing coats the weather is warm. • No two towns are the same, they each have their own characteristics.
Comma Splice With semicolons, be careful that both parts are sentences. This example is wrong because both parts are not sentences. Studying hard; Leon passed SPM with flying colours. WRONG. Studying hard, Leon passed SPM with flying colours. RIGHT.
Comma Splice One of the most common causes of comma splices or fused sentences is using the wrong kind of word to join two sentences. The following words are not conjunctions, although they express a relationship between two sentences. however also therefore then thus at this time If you use one of these words to express a relationship between two sentences, you must punctuate with a comma or semicolon.
Comma Splice I have a terrible cold, but I am going to class anyway. CORRECT I have a terrible cold; however, I am going to class anyway. CORRECT I have a terrible cold. However, I am going to class anyway. CORRECT COMMA SPLICE: I have a terrible cold, however, I am going to class anyway. WRONG
Choppy Sentences • Sentences that are too short. • Short sentences can be effective in certain situations. Despite countless doctors’ warnings, news stories, and magazine articles about the importance of eating a nutritious, balanced diet, many people resist developing healthy eating habits. Some people just like junk food. (A sentence of 25 words is followed by one of 6 words. The second sentence has greater impact because it is so short) To have this, the short sentence has to be set off by longer ones so its brevity stands out.
Choppy Sentences • However, overuse of short sentences is considered to be poor style in academic writing. • How to correct: Combine two or three short sentences to make one compound or complex sentence. Your decision to make a compound or a complex sentence should be based on whether the ideas in the short sentences are equal or whether one idea is dependent on the other
Choppy Sentences: Example She took dance classes. She had no natural grace or sense of rhythm. She eventually gave up the idea of becoming a dancer. She took classes, but she had not natural grace or sense of rhythm, so she eventually gave up the idea of becoming a dancer.
Choppy Sentences: Example I was exhausted. I stared at the page. I was unable to comprehend a single word. • Exhausted, I stared at the page, unable to comprehend a single word.
Choppy Sentences: Example Bears emerge from hibernation in the spring. They wander through wetlands. They feed mainly on grasses • When bears emerge from hibernation in the spring, they wander through wetlands and feed mainly on grasses.
Choppy Sentences: Example Wind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimited energy source. Dams produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long time. Windmills are relatively new. Both wind and water are enduring sources of power. Dams have produced hydraulic power for a long time, but windmills are relatively new.
For more practice go to: http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm
Transitional Words and Phrases To change the line of reasoning (contrast): • however • on the other hand • but • yet • nevertheless • on the contrary For continuing a common line of reasoning: • consequently • clearly • then • furthermore • additionally • and • in addition • moreover
Transitional Words and Phrases Sequence or time: • after • afterwards • as soon as • at first • at last • before • before long • finally • first... second... third • in the first place • in the meantime Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically: • first... second... third... • generally... furthermore... finally • in the first place... also... lastly • in the first place... pursuing this further... finally • to be sure... additionally... lastly
Simple Present vs Present Progressive • Each night, the lonely old lady feedsthe ducks. • Jane is revising for the exam right now
Present perfect vs Simple past • I changed the light bulb yesterday evening. • The CEO signed the MOU last week • I lived in Sandakan for three years. • Over the years, my hometown has changed from a friendly small town into a busy modern suburb. • The CEO has signed the MOU. • There have been six robberies this month.
Simple Past, Past Progressive, Past Perfect • Everything went as usual that morning. • I was still crying when my mother arrived. • After we had put on our hiking boots, we set off down the trail.
