Sentence Structure FANBOYS Subordination. Sentence Structure: Coordination

Sentence StructureFANBOYSSubordination

Sentence Structure: Coordination

Sentence StructureCoordination:

When combining two independent clauses with a FANBOY

It is a beautiful day, so we went to the park after school.

We have gorgeous Springs, Summers, and Falls, but they other 8 months are grey and rainy.

When there are NOT two independent clauses. Her smile and happy personality is fun to be around but only in small

doses. She was starving and had three helpings of green beans.

Comma or no comma? Fall days are some of my favorites yet I enjoy the cool sunny

days of winter as well.She is a sweet dog but doesn’t react well to aggressive

correction.

Sentence Structure: SubordinationSubordination: when the ideas are of unequal importance,

and you want to show their relationship (like cause and effect). Use a

subordinating conjunction when combining an independent clause and a dependent clause. Guide to Grammar & Writing

Sentence Structure: Subordination

There are two patterns to sentence structures using subordination.

First Pattern: Uses a comma.

Sub. conj. + clause , indep. clause.

Second Pattern: Does not use a comma.Indep. Clause + sub. Conj. + Clause.

EX: Even if you win a million dollars, not all of your problems will be solved.

EX: It’s not okay to steal anything even if you are stealing it for someone else.



Subordination (Comma): When starting with your subordinating conjunction, use a comma.

Since she needed a summer job, she applied everywhere she could think of.

If you get corrected by someone, it’s important to acknowledge that mistake and learn from it.

Subordination (No comma)When the subordinating conjunction come between the clauses,

there is no comma. He was in a good mood because his grade improved. The dog woke up the children since she jumped on their beds.

Comma or no comma? It’s okay to admit mistakes when you have misspoken. Since we’re all imperfect admitting you don’t know something

doesn’t mean you are stupid.

Coordination: Using a semicolon2. Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses

EX: We always have one nice week in April; the rains then last until July

EX: Warm, sunny days in the spring are wonderful; it’s cruel when the rains return until after the 4th of July.

EX: We always spend as much time outside as we can; everything becomes so wet and marshy until the 90 degree weather starts.

TerminologyReview: Coordination

Conjunctive Adverb: are used to create a sophisticated relationship between ideas.

Use a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after.

His whiny bark sounded at the door; however, no one was home to let the cold, wet pup inside.

Conjunctive adverbsMornings are my lease

favorite part of the day; nonetheless, we ended up with a dog that likes to get up at 5 am every day.

The driver was dangerous; for example, she swerved from lane to lane in order to dodge other people, appeared to be texting while driving, and was travelling at very high speeds.

Semicolon = ; Colon = : Semicolon:

A semicolon connects two independent clausesThe dog was very submissive; she hid under tables at loud

noises, shaking horribly.Colon:

After an independent clause to introduce a list, a quote, or a clause to emphasize the independent clause.

Today was the best day ever: she won the lottery, got a promotion, and her boyfriend proposed to her.

The professor was known to be strict: “Anyone who is not willing to study for at least 3 hours a night, needs to just drop the class now.”

The puppy was picking up some very bad habits: stealing food from the table and digging holes in the yard.

Grammar Review: Commas


After introductory clauses, phrases or words that come before the main clause.A dependent clause which begins with words such as after,

although, as, because, if, since, when, while. (Subordination) As I walked to the store, my shoes became soaked from the standing

water on the sidewalk. While you distract them, I’ll hide the presents upstairs.

Any introductory phrase that is either more than four words or is nonessential to the sentence should be followed by a comma. As a tradition started by my mother, the girls choose a gift to buy

from the giving tree. Surrounded by twinkling lights, the front window frames a gorgeous

view of the decorated main street of the small town



In the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are nonessential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma to indicate the beginning of the clause and one to indicate the end. My puppy, who was a rescue, is struggling with being the lowest

member of the pack. That pink rose, from my favorite bush, is the last rose we will get

this season. The neighborhood, tucked in between two old farms, is quiet and

often overlooked.NO comma with essential information

The boys who refused to complete their work were sent home early.

The tree that is in my neighbor’s yard is covering everyone’s yards in leaves.



To separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. NEVER add a comma between the final adjective and the noun or with non-coordinate adjectives.To test if you need a comma between two adjectives, see if

you can replace the comma with the word “and”. If the sentence still makes sense, you need a comma. Otherwise, leave it out. It is a dark, rainy day. Beware of my neighbor; he is a cantankerous, senile man.

When NOT to have a comma There was no missing her, for her jacket was bright yellow. She did not like the juice since it tasted like sour orange juice. My nephew is the quiet young man on the left.


To shift between the main discourse and a quotation. Use a comma to introduce a quotation after a standard

dialogue tag, a brief introductory phrase, or a dependent clause.The detective said, "I am sure who performed the murder.”He said, "I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.” Mullen, criticizing the apparent inaction, writes, "Donahue's

policy was to do nothing" (24). NO comma

Williams described the experiment as "a definitive step forward"; other scientists disagreed.

History is stained with blood spilled in the name of "civilization."

Common ErrorsHomophones: Words that sound the same, but are

spelled differently.Examples: There, their, they’re

ApostrophesShows possession, not plural

I have many friend’s. OR She is my friend’s sister.

Comma Splices

My writing is improving, I still make mistakes.Agreement

A person may always find more mistakes no matter how many times they edit.

HomophonesTheir

Possession of a group of people That family loves their dog.

There (remember There goes with here T-here)Existence or location

There are many reasons to be happy. The hammer is over there.

They’reContraction for “they are”

They’re going to the beach for the weekend.

HomophonesIts

The possession of “it”. The dog’s leash = its leash.

It’sThe contraction for “It is”. It’s really hot out

today.Loose

The opposite of tight. She wears loose clothing.

LoseTo misplace. Please don’t lose your phone.

HomophonesYour

Possession of you. I’m coming to your house.You’re

Contraction of “you are”. You’re a happy person.Than

Comparison. I’m shorter than you.Then

Passage of time. Finish your homework, then take a nap.

HomophonesWhether

Conditional statement The football player’s salary depends on

whether he scores many touch downs or not.

WeatherRain, snow, sunny

The weather was beautiful at the beach.

Whether we go to the beach or not will be determined by the weather.

HomophonesAffect

A verb, meaning to influenceEffect

A noun, meaning the result

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com

Apostrophes The apostrophe has three uses:

to form possessives of nouns to show the omission of letters to indicate certain plurals of

lowercase letters Examples:the boy's hat = the hat of the boy

three days' journey = journey of three days

Apostrophesadd 's to the singular form of the word (even if it

ends in -s): the owner's car, James's hat (James' hat is also acceptable.

"The Eggles' presentation was good." The Eggles are a husband and wife consultant team.)

add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s: the children's game, the geese's honking

add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in -s: two cats' toys, three friends' letters

add 's to the end of compound words: my brother-in-law's money

add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object: Todd and Anne's apartment

ApostropheContractions: a word in which one or more letters

have been omitted.don't = do not I'm = I am he'll = he will who's = who is shouldn't = should not didn't = did not could've= could have (NOT "could of"!) '60 = 1960

Apostrophes1. Whos the partys candidate for vice president this year?

Who’s the party’s candidate for vice president this year?2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the traps

jaws.The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the trap’s jaws.

3. Our neighbors car is an old Chrysler, and its just about to fall apart.Our neighbor’s car is an old Chrysler, and it’s just about to fall

apart.4. In three weeks time well have to begin school again.

In three weeks’ time we’ll have to begin school again.5. Didnt you hear that theyre leaving tomorrow?

Didn’t you hear that they’re leaving tomorrow?

Comma Splices/Run-onsComma Splice: Two independent clauses joined together

incorrectly by using a comma.Fused Run-on Sentence: Two independent clauses joined

together incorrectly by using no punctuation.Examples:

The girls walked to the store, they wanted ice cream. (CS)Fixed: The girls walked to the store, for they wanted

ice cream.The girls walked to the store they wanted ice cream. (FRO)

Fixed: The girls walked to the store since they wanted ice cream.

Pronoun Agreement (pronoun/antecedent agreement)

The pronouns need to match the nouns that appear later in the sentence. Either both singular or both plural

He did his homework. The students took their quizzes.

Common mistakes (or shift in agreement) look like this: The children ate their sandwich.

This means all the children shared one sandwich. Children = plural, their = plural, sandwich = singular

A good student does their homework on time. Student = singular, their = plural

The students love their teacher. IS this one okay? Only IF that is the meaning. Students = plural, their = plural, teacher = singular. The must all love the same teacher if this is to be a true statement.

Terminology ReviewSubject/verb agreement:

Correct form of verb for the subject:I have, you have, he/she has, we have, they haveThe boy walks vs. The boys walk

Common errors:The group of boys is playing.

The group determines the verb, not boys Singular words that are often mistaken for pluralaudience band class committee crowd

staffdozen family flock group heap

teamherd jury kind lot number

[the]

Grammar Review: Semicolons


Link two independent clauses with no connecting words. The independent clauses should be related in some way.

He did not finish his assignments; he dreaded facing his professor.

His shoes were soaked from the rain; there was a sloshing sound with each step.

WRONGThe turkey dinner tasted great; since he couldn’t

remember the last time he had turkey.He was sure he turned in his final essay; but he later

found it in his notebook.


When joining two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb (however, moreover, therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus, etc), the pattern is always

Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause.

He did not finish his assignments; therefore, he dreaded facing his professor.

The girls need to clean up the playroom; otherwise, the toy fairy will come and take the toys to little girls who will take good care of them.


Use a semicolon in a list of even one element in that list requires a comma to avoid confusion.

February 14, 2000; July 2, 2000; February 14, 2006 and May 23, 2007 are very important dates in my life.

He has lived in Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts and now Wasilla, Alaska.

Works Cited

Conclusions. The Writing Center, The University of North Carolina. Web. 16 August 2010.

Fogerty, Mignon. Grammar Girl. Holtzbrinck Publishers Holding, LLC. 2009. web. 22 July 2010.

Gavin, Mary L., MD. How TV Affects your child. KidsHealth. October 2008. Web. 16 August 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html>

Hacker, Diane. Rules for Writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Print.Introductions. The Writing Center, The University of North Carolina. Web. 16 August

2010. <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/introductions.html>Sevastopoulos, Julie. Grammar Quizzes. Web. 15 August 2010.

<http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/introductions.html>Strunk, William Jr. Elements of Style. Ithaca, NY: Bartleby, 1999. Print.The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010. Web. 22 July 2010.Writing Tutorial Service. Indiana University. 30 January 2008. Web. 16 July 2010.

<http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml>

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Sentence Structure FANBOYS Subordination. Sentence Structure: Coordination