Sentence Sense
The Comma Rules!
Overview
Sentence
building jargon
The basic types of sentences
What NOT to do
The Comma Rules
The Semicolon
Every sentence must have these
three things
Subject
Verb
Complete
idea
Grammar Talk
Phrase
Clause
A
bunch of
words with NO
subject or verb
A bunch of
words with a
subject and verb.
Clauses come in many types
Independent


Can stand
alone.
Can be called a
sentence.
Dependent
Cannot
stand
alone.
Not a sentence
because they
DEPEND on an
independent
clause.
Dependent clauses have specific
names depending on their
function
Noun
clauses act as nouns.
Adjective clauses act as
adjectives.
Adverb clauses act as adverbs.
We need to know the
grammar talk to use
commas and other
punctuation correctly.
The comma rules!
How do we use independent and
dependent clauses in
sentences?
There
are three
types of
sentences.
Do you know
their names?
Simple
1 independent clause
The
Grand Canyon is in Arizona.
It is one of the most visited
national parks in the country.
Compound
2 or more independent clauses
It
is one mile deep, and it is over
200 miles long.
Mario will visit in May, but Erin
isn’t going until September.
Complex
1 independent clause and at
least 1 dependent clause
While
they were there, they hiked a
lot.
They had to carry a lot of water
because the temperature reached 100
degrees.
The trail, which was created by
Indians, leads to the Colorado River.
Coordinating conjunctions
“Little words”
F
AN BOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
These words are used to
combine two things: independent
clauses, nouns, or verbs
Use a comma to combine two
independent clauses
Subordinating conjunctions
When,
while, after, Although,
because, since, before, etc.
These words often begin
dependent clauses
Use a comma at the end of an
introductory clause.
Relative Pronouns
aka Adjective Pronouns
Who
Whom
Which
Whose
That
What
The Most Common Relative
Pronouns
Who
= people only
Which = things only
That = either
Nelson
Mandela, who had been the
most widely known figure in the
struggle against apartheid, became
the first democratically elected
president of South Africa.
South Africa, which is located at the
southern most region of Africa, has
experienced a different history from
other nations in Africa due to its early
immigration from Europe and the
strategic importance of the Cape Sea
Route.
No Comma before THAT
The
country that thrived on the transSahara trade is Guinea-Bissou when
it was part of the Mali empire.
Burkina Faso hosts a popular PanAfrican film festival that attracts
filmmakers from across the continent.
,THAT
Whose does not always
pertain to people
The
Republic of Congo, whose
capital lies directly on the
equator, is 2/3 rainforest.
The diamond mines of Angola,
whose value cannot be
overestimated, employ
thousands.
Conjunctive Adverbs or
transition words – “big words”
therefore,
however,
consequently, as a result,
moreover, furthermore, namely,
similarly, on the other hand,
overall, in conclusion.
These words are set off on both
sides with punctuation.
Transition words can go in the
beginning, middle, or end.
Therefore,
we should review our
work frequently.
We should, therefore, review our
work frequently.
We should review our work
frequently, therefore.
Combining Sentences
Sentences
can only be combined
one of two ways:
With comma and a FAN BOYS
Or
With a semicolon
Compound
I
I
;
I
I
I
I
 Complex
D
I (interrupted)
I
D
D
,
I
Your turn, then compare
Write four sentences: one
simple, one compound, and two
complex (one with a
subordinating conjunction and
one with a relative pronoun
The Guide to Grammar and
Writing
http://grammar.
ccc.commnet.edu/
grammar
Look at the second oval on the
right. Click on the drop down
arrow and choose 170+
Interactive QUIZZES.
Try # 64: Types of Sentences
Bad (incorrect) sentences
Run-on – 2 independent clauses
combined with no punctuation. Also
called a fused sentence.
Comma splice – 2 independent
clauses combined with only a
comma.
Fragment – Not a sentence. Missing
a subject, verb or complete idea.
What’s the problem?
As
for African Americans
themselves, in Montgomery.
They showed the world that they
could organize brilliantly and
work courageously to reach their
goals.
The
old passivity was gone an
exuberant new sense of dignity
and destiny replaced it.
The news from Greensboro hit
home for a whole generation of
black students, the pictures on
TV of the Greensboro sit-in
galvanized many of them into
action.
In
the first two weeks after
Greensboro.
There were sit-ins against
segregation laws in fifteen other
southern cities, by April, it was
seventy-eight cities, and by
year’s end, 70,000 people had
taken part in demonstrations.
The Guide to Grammar and
Writing
http://grammar. ccc.commnet.edu/
grammar
Look at the second oval on the
right. Click on the drop down
arrow and choose 170+
Interactive QUIZZES.
Try # 68: Fragments and Run-ons
The comma rules
Series
Compound
sentence
Intro word, phrase, clause
Extra info (appositive)
Quotes
Double adjectives and Misc.
Every
day on the computer I
check my email, use PowerPoint,
and revise excel sheets.
Using a computer makes my
work easier, but I still seem to
have a lot to do.
Personally, I couldn’t live without
a computer
In
the beginning, I had trouble
working with the mouse.
Although I’ve learned a lot, I’ve
discovered that there’s always
more to know about computers.
Mr. Attey, one of the computer
teachers, has been very patient
working with the students.
He
always says, “practice makes
perfect.”
It has been a long, difficult
process at times.
The Semicolon
Your friend
The Semicolon has two uses
#1To combine two closely related
sentences
Access helps to collect and
arrange information; it’s a
database program.
#2To combine “monster lists”
Last year, Fatima visited Abidjan,
Ivory Coast; Conakry, Guinea;
Dakar, Senegal; and Nouakchott,
Mauritania.
Introducing…
The Colon
The Colon
The
colon introduces something:
a word, phrase, or even a
complete sentence.
It only goes where a period could
go.
For example
Mikey
would only eat one thing
for breakfast: Cherrios.
He hated everything: eggs,
waffles, juice.
He only made one demand: “Give
me Cherrios!”
--The Dash-Sets
off items when a comma is
inappropriate.
It also adds drama because it
draws attention.
For example
Jordon – the greatest
living basketball player of the
world – is my son’s idol.
He was not corrupted by money –
unlike many of his
contemporaries.
Michael
The Guide to Grammar and
Writing
http://grammar. ccc.commnet.edu/
grammar
Look at the second oval on the
right. Click on the drop down
arrow and choose 170+
Interactive QUIZZES.
Try # 85: Punctuation
The Guide to Grammar and
Writing
http://grammar. ccc.commnet.edu/
grammar
Look at the bottom left oval. Click on the
drop down arrow and choose PowerPoint
Presentations. Review this lesson by
studying the following PowerPoint
Presentations: Clauses: Essential Building
Blocks, The English House of Commas,
Your Friend the Semicolon, and any others
that strike your fancy.
Congratulations!
You are now well on your
way toward becoming a
better writer.