Grammar

1. Grammar Commas, Quotations, Semi-colons, Parallel Structure, Possessives

2. Fragments • Sentence fragments are groups of words that are punctuated as sentences but lack some element grammatically necessary to a sentence. • Phrase fragments • NBC is broadcasting the debates. With discussions afterward. • Compound predicate fragments • They sold their house. And moved into an apartment. • Fragments beginning with transitions • Joan Didion has written on many subjects. Such as the Hoover Dam and migraine headaches. • Clause fragments • When I decided to work part-time. I gave up some earning potential.

3. Fixing Fragments • Just make sure that the sentence could stand on its own, that it would make sense if you walked into a room and shouted it out. • NBC is broadcasting the debates with discussions afterward. • They sold their house and moved into an apartment. • Joan Didion has written on many subjects, such as the Hoover Dam and migraine headaches. • When I decided to work part-time. I gave up some earning potential

4. Comma SpliceandFused Sentences • A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only with a comma. • Joan finished singing, May started talking. • Fused sentences or run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses are joined with no punctuation or no connecting word between them. • Joan finished singing May started talking.

5. Separating the clauses into two sentences • The federal government contributes only 7 percent of public education costs, the rest comes from the states. • The federal government contributes only 7 percent of public education costs. The rest comes from the states.

6. Linking the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction • Interest rates fell, people began borrowing more money. • Interest rates fell, so people began borrowing more money.

7. Linking the clauses with a semicolon • This photograph is not at all realistic, it even uses dreamlike images to convey its message. • This photograph is not at all realistic; it even uses dreamlike images to convey its message.

8. Recasting one independent clause as a dependent clause -- subordination • Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of America’s major novelists, she died in obscurity. • Although Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of America’s major novelists, she died in obscurity.

9. Exercise:Fix the following sentence fragments and run-ons • The truck skidded on the rain-slick highway. But missed a telephone pole on the side of the road. • Michelle tried each of the appetizers on the table. And then found that, when dinner arrived, her appetite was gone. • Fred and Martha do most of their shopping through mail-order catalogs. Especially the J.C. Penney catalog. • My grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C. • Correct the above by inserting a period • Correct the above by inserting a joining word • Correct the above using a semi-colon • Correct the above using subordination

10. Sentence Types • Mama sentences – stand alone, take care of them selves • Baby sentences – need help, can’t stand alone • Simple sentences = 1 mama • Jane ate. • Compound sentences = 2 mamas • Jane ate and Martha slept. • Complex sentences = 1baby, 1 mama • Jane ate while Martha slept. • Compound-complex sentences = 2 or more mamas and 1 or more babies • Jane ate and Martha slept while Peter cleaned the garage.

11. An exercise • The Scream, by Edvard Munch • Write one simple sentence about the scene. • Write one compound sentence • Write one complex sentence. • Write one compound-complex sentence.

12. Quotation Marks • Periods and commas go inside closing quotation marks. • “Don’t compromise yourself,” said Janis Joplin. “You are all you’ve got.” • Colons and semicolons go outside closing quotation marks. • I felt only one emotion after finishing “Eveline”: pity. • Question marks, exclamation points and dashes go inside if they’re part of the quoted material, outside if they’re not. • What is the theme of Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”? • “Who Let the Dogs Out?”, a hit song by Baha Men, ws released in 2000.

13. Semicolons • Link independent clauses • Immigration acts were passed; newcomers had to prove their ability to read. • Link independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases • Every kid should have access to a computer; furthermore, access to the Internet should be free. • Separate items in a series containing other punctuation • Anthropology encompasses archaeology, the study of ancient civilizations through artifacts; linguistics, the study of the structure and development of language; and cultural anthropology, the study of language, behavior and customs.

14. Parallel Structure • All items in a series should be in parallel form – all nouns, all verbs, all prepositional phrases, etc. • The quarter horse skipped, pranced, and was sashaying onto the track. • The quarter horse skipped, pranced, and sashayed onto the track.

15. Parallel Structure • Parallel structure works to make stronger connections between ideas. • I type in one place, but I do my writing in various locations in my house. • I type in one place, but I write all over the house. • Writers are often more interesting on the page than when you meet them in person. • Writers are often more interesting on the page than in the flesh.

16. Parallel Structure • To clarify meaning • We’ll move to a town near the ocean or Mexico. • We’ll move to a town near the ocean or to Mexico.

17. Exercise: Parallel Structure • The children ran down the hill, skipped over the lawn, and **went swimming in the pool. • The wise politician promises the possible and should **accept the inevitable. • Consult a friend **in your class or who is good at math.

18. Possessives • Denotes ownership or possession – • Katherine Hepburn’s first movies are considered classics. • Anyone’s guess is as good as mine.

19. Plural Possessives • Only add the apostrophe – if the plural ends in “s.” • The clowns’ costumes were bright green and orange.

20. Its • The only possessive that I know of that doesn’t use an apostrophe is “its.” • As in the dog turned over its dish when it wanted us to fill it. • This is to keep us from confusing “it’s” (contraction for “it is”) with “its.” • As it when it’s time, the dog will be fed.

21. Commas • To set off introductory elements • To win the contest, Connor needed courage. • Suddenly, Anisha remembered the answer. • To separate clauses in compound sentences • Scientists have studied AIDS for more than twenty years, but a vaccine still eludes them. • To set off nonrestrictive elements • The two drivers involved in the accident, who have been convicted of drunk driving, should lose their licenses.

22. Commas • To set off parenthetical and transitional expressions • Ceiling fans, moreover, are less expensive than air conditioners. • Ozone is a byproduct of dry cleaning, for example.

23. Exercises: Commas • Frank’s interests are Maria television and sports. • To remove the cap of the aspirin bottle you must first press down on it. • Sarah who is my next door neighbor just entered the hospital with a brain tumor. • The wedding was scheduled for four o’clock but the bride changed her mind at two. • “Don’t bend over to pat the dog” I warned “or he’ll bite you. • Roy lives at 817 Cresson Street Detroit Michigan.