GRAMMAR AND ITS CORRECT USAGE

1. GRAMMAR AND ITS CORRECT USAGE Course: English writing skills BBA-1 Instructor: Farhana Aziz

2. Comma splice • A comma splice is simply a sentence in which a comma is called on to do more than is appropriate. When a sentence contains two independent clauses — each of which could essentially stand on its own — separated by a comma. E.g: • I know what to do, I just don’t know how to do it. Correct: • I know what to do but I just don’t know how to do it. ORI know what to do. I just don’t know how to do it.

3. Fused sentence • When a sentence contains two independent clauses — each of which could essentially stand on its own — not separated by a comma or by nothing at all. It is also called run-on sentence. E.g: • I know what to do I just don’t know how to do it. Correct: • I know what to do however, I just don’t know how to do it. OR • I know what to do. I just don’t know how to do it.

4. 5 strategies to fix the comma splice

5. 1.Turn the independent clauses into separate sentences. • Divide the sentence into two (and set “Of course” off with a comma as well): • E.g: “Of course not all companies will survive, it is our goal to give the investing public accurate information on all companies.” • “Of course, not all companies will survive. It is our goal to give the investing public accurate information on all companies.”

6. 2. Add coordinating conjuction • Insert a coordinating conjunction to join the clause with the other one. • Use words like And, for, nor, yet, but, or, so etc to join two sentences. E.g: “At times, it resembled the pitch of a whirring blender, at other moments, an angelic choir.” • Correct: “At times, it resembled the pitch of a whirring blender, and at other moments, an angelic choir.” (The final comma and the phrase “an angelic choir” are correct;”)

7. 3. Add subordinating conjuction • Insert a subordinating conjunction to convert either clause into a subordinate clause (one that depends on the other to be the main clause): • Use while, infact, instead, because, as soon as, since, although etc to join two sentences and make the other one subordinate. E.g: • “Some buildings hearken back to Main Street, USA, others offer strip-mall modernism.” • Correct: “Some buildings hearken back to Main Street, USA, while others offer strip mall modernism.” (While could, alternatively, begin the sentence.)

8. 4. Replace comma with a semicolon • Separate the independent clauses with a semicolon and add a conjunctive adverb. The semicolon will tell the reader that the ideas in the two sentences are closely connected, and the conjunctive adverb describes the connection. E.g: • He doesn’t need the map right now, he just follows the direction kim pointed out to him. • Correct: He doesn’t need the map right now; instead, he just follows the direction kim pointed out to him.

9. 5. Turn independent clause into a phrase • Eliminating the subject and verb will turn the second clause into a modifying phrase. Thus closely connecting the ideas. E.g: • At high noon we were off paddling down the Potomac River, we were two to a canoe with a gear in the middle. • Correct: At high noon we were off paddling down the Potomac River, two to a canoe with a gear in the middle.

13. strategies to fix the fused sentence

14. Her mood was good I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions. • Because her mood was good, I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions. • Her mood was good, that’s why / so I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions. • Her mood was good; I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions. • Her mood was good, taking the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions. • Her mood was good. I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.

15. Fragment sentences

16. A fragment is either an incomplete sentence lacking a subject or predicate, or a dependentclause punctuated as a sentence. • Even though fragment begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. E.g: • Tonight its my turn. A ride-along with Sergent Rob of the Green valley police dept. • Tonight its my turn for aride-along with Sergent Rob of the Green Valley Police Dept.

17. Your turn Making the other clause subordinate: • Frank turned the cards one at a time. Each time telling me something about my future. • Frank turned the cards one at a time each time telling me something about my future. Making both clauses independent: • The world that I was born into demanded continuous work. Where nobody got ahead, and everyone came home tired. • The world that I was born into demanded continuous work. Nobody got ahead, and everyone came home tired.

18. Your turn Add subject to the other clause to make it complete: • The crowd in the lounge is basically young.The teenage and early twenties generation. • The crowd in the lounge is basically young.The teenage and early twenties generation gathers together. Leave the fragment as it is to create special effect: • The bare utility of the clock echoes the simplicity of the office. No sign of a large hardwood desk or a pillowy leather chair or even a wall with shelves filled with imposing law books.

19. 4 p’s to understand the concept completely • PLEASE • PRACTICE, • PRACTICE & • PRACTICE

20. Enough for the day.