Sentence Patterns and Sentence Information

Most English sentences flow from subject to verb to any objects or complements. The vast majority of sentences conform to one of these five patterns:

S + LV + PA OR S + LV + PN

subject/linking verb/ subject complement (predicate adjective or predicate nominative)

S + AV + DO

subject/action verb/direct object

S + AV + IO + DO

subject/action verb/indirect object/direct object

S + AV + DO + OC

subject/action verb/direct object/object complement

S + V

subject/verb

Definitions

· A sentence is made up of one or more words that express a complete thought, begins with a capital letter, and ends with end punctuation.

· A subject names what or whom the sentence is about or the performer of the action

· The complete subject is usually composed of a simple subject, always a noun or pronoun, and all of its modifiers.

· In imperative sentences, the subject of a sentence is understood but not actually present in the sentence.

· A verb is a word in the sentence that expresses action or a state of being.

· A predicate is the grammatical term given to the verb plus its objects, complements, and adverbial modifiers.

· The subject and the predicate must agree in number and person.

Clauses and Errors

A clause is a group of related words that has both a subject and a predicate.

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

I am ready to face the firing squad.

A subordinate clause [also known as a dependent clause] does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone.

Although I continue to assert my innocence.

A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are fused with inadequate punctuation or lack an appropriate conjunction.

I thought the ride would never end my eyes were crossed my fingers were numb.

A rambling sentence is one that goes on and on. Often it is the result of overuse of the conjunction and.

The intruder entered silently through the window and moved down the corridor and under a stairwell and stood waiting in the shadows.

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are hooked or spliced together with only a comma.

The crowd had been waiting in the hot sun for two hours, many of the people were beginning to show their impatience by clapping and hollering.

March 1, 2008/0 Comments/by dpogreba

Writing Mechanics Checklist

This piece has been edited for the following:

_____Sentences begin with capital letters.

_____Sentences have correct ending punctuation.

_____Sentences are complete.

_____Paragraphs are indented.

_____Commas are used in compound sentences, and for the listing of items in a series.

_____Quotation marks (where necessary) are used correctly.

_____No contractions are used.

_____Spelling is correct.

_____Unnecessary words, phrases and sentences have been eliminated.

_____Use of common homonyms (there, their, to, too, then, than) is correct.

_____Verb tenses are correct.

_____Subjects and predicates agree and are consistent.

_____Pronouns agree with nouns they replace.

_____Apostrophes are used correctly for possessive nouns.

_____Proper nouns and adjectives are capitalized.

_____Colons, semi-colons, parentheses and dashes are used correctly.

_____Underlining (for italics) is used correctly.

_____First and second person pronouns are not used (unless writing is autobiographical or personal).

_____MLA format is used correctly.

March 1, 2008/0 Comments/by dpogreba

Misplaced Words and Phrases

Wrong	Right	Rationale
We could understand the Spanish spoken by our visitors from Madrid easily.	We could easily understand the Spanish spoken by our visitors from Madrid	In general, you should place single-word modifiers near the word or words they modify, especially when a reader might think that they modify something different in the sentence
Defining your terms clearly strengthens your argument. (Does defining “clearly strengthen” or does “defining clearly” strengthen?)	Defining your terms will clearly strengthen your argument. –OR– A clear definition of your terms strengthens your argument.	A squinting modifier is an ambiguously placed modifier that can modify either the word before it or the word after it. In other words, it is “squinting” in both directions at the same time.
Cuyler has nearly annoyed every teacher he has had. We almost ate all of the Thanksgiving turkey.	Cuyler has annoyed nearly every teacher he has had. We ate almost all of the Thanksgiving turkey.	It is particularly important to be careful about where you put limiting modifiers. These are words like “almost,” “hardly,” “nearly,” “just,” “only,” “merely,” and so on. You can accidentally change the entire meaning of a sentence if you place these modifiers next to the wrong word.
I heard that my roommate intended to throw a surprise party for me while I was outside her bedroom window. By accident, he poked the little girl with his finger in the eye.	While I was outside her bedroom window, I heard that my roommate intended to throw a surprise party for me. By accident, he poked the little girl in the eye with his finger.	It is important that you place the modifying phrase or clause as close as possible to the word or words it modifies.

The Dangling Modifier

A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not connect grammatically with what it is intended to modify. The problem is most common with adjective participial phrases, especially when they open the sentence. Such open participial phrases can be taken to modify the noun, but when the noun is not present in the sentence, then the phrase becomes nonsensical.

Wrong

Right

Explanation

Having finished the Huck Finn essay, the TV was turned on.

Having finished the Huck Finn essay, Danielle turned on the TV.

Having finished is a participle expressing action, but the doer is not the TV set (the subject of the main clause): TV sets don’t finish assignments. Since the doer of the action expressed in the participle has not been clearly stated, the participial phrase is said to be a dangling modifier.

After reading the essay, the article remains unconvincing.

Without knowing his name, it was difficult to introduce him.

After reading the essay, I find the article unconvincing.

–OR

The essay remains unconvincing in light of the original article.

Because Maria did not know his name, it was difficult to introduce him.

Ways to Fix Dangling Modifiers:

1) Name the appropriate or logical doer of the action as the subject of the main clause.

2) Change the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause.

3) Combine the phrase and main clause into one

Split Infinitives

The infinitive form of the verb consists of the word “to” followed by the base form of the verb: “to be,” “to serve,” “to chop,” etc. Inserting a word or words between the “to” and the verb of an infinitive creates what is known as a split infinitive. Prescriptive grammarians, who knew Latin grammar better than English, once decreed that a split infinitive was an error, but now it is growing increasingly acceptable even in formal writing.

Right	Wrong	Explanation
The school board voted to ask the teachers to express their feelings before pursuing the use of drug dogs in the faculty lounge.	The school board voted to, before pursuing the use of drug dogs in the faculty lounge, ask the teachers to express their feelings.	Avoid splitting the infinitive when there will be a long modifying phrase.
He decided to promptly return the money he found.	He promptly decided to return the money he found. He decided to return the money he found promptly. He decided promptly to return the money he found.	Unsplitting an infinitive can at times be an error—because the revision changes the intended meaning or results in ambiguity. Consider how the meaning of each of these sentences is altered subtly from the original.
to increase profits substantially to obey the law of the land at all times to deal with the economic slump quickly and decisively	The company hopes to substantially increase profits. They promised to at all times obey the law of the land. They planned to quickly and decisively deal with the economic slump.	There are times, of course, when a split infinitive sounds more awkward than alternative phrasing.

March 1, 2008/0 Comments/by dpogreba

Mechanics

Apostrophe

– used to show possession or mark omissions in contractions.

· Forms the possessive case of nouns and pronouns.

Sean’s book the boy’s mother Aristophanes’ play

· Marks the omission of letters and numbers.

didn’t o’clock class of ‘89

· Forms plural of numbers, figures, punctuated abbreviations, symbols, and letters referred to as words.

His 7’s look like 1’s. The two teachers have Ph.D.’s.

Colon

– used to call attention to words that follow it — follows a completed main clause, and comes before one of the following: a list of items, a word, phrase, or clause that explains or restates the idea expressed in the main clause, or a direct quotation.

· Must be followed by two spaces when typed.

· Follows the greeting of a formal or business letter.

Dear Sir: Dear Ms. Smith:

· Separates numerals indicating hours and minutes or volume and page numbers.

10:00 A.M. VII: 108-110

· Introduces a list.

Purchase the following ingredients: flour, sugar, and vanilla.

· Is always placed outside quotation marks.

Semicolons

– used to connect major sentence elements of equal grammatical rank.

· Separate independent clauses not connected with a coordinate conjunction.

Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice H.L. Mencken

· Separate independent clauses connected with a conjunctive adverb or a transitional phrase.

Many corals grow slowly; in fact, the creation of a coral reef can take centuries.

Speeding is illegal; furthermore, it is dangerous.

· Separate items in a sentence that contain commas.

Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Mr. Spock; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cyclon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader.

End Marks – two spaces follow end marks when typed

· A Period

o ends a sentence that makes a statement.

o follows an individual’s initials.

o follows some abbreviations.

o does not follow abbreviations that are acronyms.

o always placed inside quotation marks.

o My mother said, “I know you’ll do well in college.”

· A Question mark

o ends a direct question.

o does not end an indirect question.

o is placed inside quotation marks when it punctuates the quotation.

o He asked, “Can you help?”

o is placed outside the quotation marks when it punctuates the whole sentence.

o Did she say, “Finish it tomorrow”?

· An Exclamation point

o ends a sentence that expresses strong feelings, but usually should be avoided.

o is placed inside quotation marks when it punctuates the quotation.

o He screamed, “Help!”

o is placed outside the quotation marks when it punctuates the whole sentence

o She said, “Finish it tomorrow”!

Parentheses

– used to enclose supplemental material, minor digressions, and afterthoughts — use sparingly.

· Enclose explanatory material that interrupts the normal sentence structure.

· Punctuation goes inside the parentheses when intended to mark the material within.

· Punctuation goes outside the parentheses when intended to mark the whole sentence.

o Have you ever skied at Big Sky? (I haven’t, but I intend to this winter!)

Brackets

– used to enclose words or phrases that the writer inserts in an otherwise word-for-word quotation.

· allows the writer to insert other material for clarification

· Audubon reports that “if there are not enough young to balance deaths, the end of the species [California condor] is inevitable.”

Quotation Marks

· enclose direct quotations and some titles such as magazine, newspaper articles, episodes of television or radio programs, songs, poems, and short stories.

· Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks. Semicolons and colons go outside.

· Exclamation points and question marks go either inside or outside, according to the demands of the quoted material.

o They again demanded “complete autonomy”; the demand was rejected as promised.

o “Brian,” called Mom, “I can’t hear you.”

Underlining or Italics

-designate titles of longer works with underlining or italics.

· The writer may use italics when typing material. When using the web, underlining may indicate a hot link.

· When underlining or italics is not available with email, precede and follow the word with one underscore or an asterisk.

Spelling

· Use a dictionary and check the spelling of unfamiliar words.

· Use a spellchecker on any word-processed work. Part of your job is to check for correct spelling.

Numbers

· Numbers that can be expressed in one or two words are usually spelled out; three or more words are usually spelled out.

ten twenty-seven 394 2001

· A combination of words and numerals can be used for larger numbers.

26 million

· Use words, not numbers, to begin a sentence.

One hundred fifty children need immediate dental treatment.

· Use numerals for money, time, date, pages, address, and statistics.

$102,00 4 out of 5 consumers average age 37, average weight 180

volume 3, chapter 4, page 42 4:00P.M.

March 1, 2008/0 Comments/by dpogreba

Semicolons

Semicolons help you connect closely related ideas when a punctuation mark stronger than a comma is needed. By using semicolons effectively, you can make your writing sound more sophisticated.

When to Use a Semicolon

Use a Semicolon to	Reason	Example
Link two independent clauses.	To connect closely related ideas.	Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil.
Link clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.	To connect closely related ideas.	But however they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing methods.
Link lists where the items contain commas.	To avoid confusion between list items.	There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.
Link lengthy clauses or clauses with commas.	To avoid confusion between clauses.	Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or a computer; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.

Rules for Using Semicolons

Rule	Example
A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.	Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil.
Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.	But however they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing methods.
Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.	There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat.
Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.	Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or a computer; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect Comma Use	Why It’s Wrong	Correct Semicolon Use
The cow is brown, it is also old.	Both parts of the sentence are independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction. This mistake is known as a comma splice.	The cow is brown; it is also old.
I like cows, however, I hate the way they smell.	The conjunctive adverb however signals a connection between two independent clauses, and commas should not be used to connect independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction.	I like cows; however, I hate the way they smell.
I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good, they give us beef, which also tastes good, and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.	It’s unclear what the three list items are, since the items are separated by commas.	I like cows: they give us milk, which tastes good; they give us beef, which also tastes good; and they give us leather, which is used for shoes and coats.
Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millenia, are still one of the great species of this planet, domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by.	It’s unclear where the first independent clause ends and the second independent clause begins.	Cows, though their bovine majesty has been on the wane in recent millennia, are still one of the great species of this planet; domesticated, yet proud, they ruminate silently as we humans pass tumultuously by.
The cow is brown; but not old.	The coordinating conjunction but doesn’t require a semicolon, since the second part of the sentence isn’t an independent clause.	The cow is brown, but not old.
Because cows smell; they offend me.	The first part is not an independent clause, so no semicolon is required.	Because cows smell, they offend me.

March 1, 2008/0 Comments/by dpogreba