IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

Revision Paragraph Writing Rules 1. Simple Sentence: A simple sentence is a sentence that has only one subject-verb pair. For example: The Harry Potter films are magnificent. Possible formulas: SV (i.e. 1 subject & 1 verb)/SSV/SVV/SSVV

SVSV= not a simple sentence but a compound sentence. * Remember: Subject and verb should agree at all times: My brothers is nice fellas = Wrong My brothers are nice fellas= Correct A sentence ALWAYS has a subject + a verb If one of the two is missing, it is called a fragment. Check your work (peer review) to make sure you don’t have any fragments in your paragraph. E.g. English people… always in a hurry= wrong (no verb) … Is very difficult to see the stars from here=wrong (no subject) a. Make sure you apply the rules of capitalisation in English (refer to p. 7-8 of your IAW book). b. When you use time order signals (see p.25 IAW), make sure you know where or when to use a comma. Then, now, and soon usually do not require one. E.g. Then, we tried to fix his bicycle= wrong Then we tried to fix his bicycle= correct * Time order phrases generally do require a comma: E.g. At last, it came to light that he did commit the crime.

Subject Verb

Insert Verb Here

Insert Subject Here

IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

2. Compound Sentence: A compound sentence contains 2 simple sentences (i.e. 2 subject-verb combinations) joined/connected by a coordinating conjunction (CC). E.g. Yesterday we went to Jeddah, but we didn’t go to Mecca. 3. Coordinating Conjunctions:

FANBOYS * Only use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in compound sentences. In a simple sentence no comma is needed:

E.g. We ate dinner and then played cricket. Examples when used in comparison sentences: Both Amsterdam and Brussels have overcrowded City Centre’s.

S S

For And Nor But Or Yet So

V S

V S S

No 2nd subject Here

No Comma Needed

=

CC S

S S

S S

V S

=S

Simple Sentence

=S

No Comma Needed

Comparison Signal

IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

* Paris is a centre of fashion and culture, and Milan is too. * One subject verb pair/combination: Teacher Serge and his friends walked across the cornice and discussed the English 111 Quiz.

Punctuation Rules 1. Commas:

Rule 1

To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of

three or more.

Example:

My £10 million estate is to be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew.

Omitting the comma after son would indicate that the son and nephew would have to split one-third of

the estate.

Rule 2

Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between

them.

Examples:

He is a strong, healthy man.

We stayed at an expensive summer resort. You would not say expensive and summer resort,

so no comma.

Rule 3a

Use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.

Example:

Kathleen met her husband on December 5, 2003, in Mill Valley, California.

S S

S S

V S

V S

CC S

CC

SVSV= Compound Sentence (Two subject-verb pairs) !Comma Needed!

S V V S

1 2 3

IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

Rule 3b

If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.

Example:

They met in December 2003 in Mill Valley.

Rule 4

Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. If the

phrase has fewer than three words, the comma is optional.

Examples: To apply for this job, you must have previous experience.

On February 14 many couples give each other candy or flowers.

OR

On February 14, many couples give each other candy or flowers.

Rule 5

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating

conjunction--and, or, but, for, nor. You can omit the comma if the clauses are both

short.

Examples:

I have painted the entire house, but he is still working on sanding the doors.

I paint and he writes.

*If the subject does not appear in front of the second verb, do not use a comma.

Example: He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly.

*Rule 6

Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations shorter than three lines.

Examples: He actually said, "I do not care."

"Why," I asked, "do you always forget to do it?"

CC

C1 Short

C2 Short

= no need for comma

= Simple Sentence

IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

Rule 7

A comma splice is an error caused by joining two independent clauses with only a

comma instead of separating the clauses with a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period.

A run-on sentence, which is incorrect, is created by joining two strong clauses

without any punctuation.

Incorrect:

Time flies when we are having fun, we are always having fun. (Comma splice)

Time flies when we are having fun we are always having fun. (Run-on sentence)

Correct:

Time flies when we are having fun; we are always having fun.

OR

Time flies when we are having fun, and we are always having fun.

OR Time flies when we are having fun. We are always having fun.

2. Comparison Signals

1. Sentence Connectors

a. Similarly/Likewise

-Used at the beginning of a sentence:

E.g. Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. Likewise, Brussels is the capital of Belgium.

E.g. Birds are thought-provoking animals. Similarly, reptiles are inspiring creatures too.

b. Also

- Used in the middle or at the end of a sentence:

Example:

Ahmed is an excellent student. Mohammad is also a brilliant apprentice.

Ahmad is an excellent student. Mohammad is a brilliant apprentice also.

c. Too

- Usually at the end of a sentence:

Example:

Rayan is very tired today. Meshal is, too.

Example (with coordinating conjunction and):

Rayan is very tired today, and Meshal is too.

* The combination and…too is a coordinating conjunction.

Middle

End

With or without Comma = Correct

IAW: Chapter 7 Comparing & Contrasting

COSHP Semester 2, 2013/14

2. Subordinating Conjunctions

d. As & just as (subordinating word)

- Begins a dependent clause:

Example:

Riyadh is flourishing and massive, as/just as Jeddah is.

3. Others

e. Similar/equal/ the same (act like adjectives)

- Describe Nouns

Example:

An I-Pad and a Galaxy Tab have similar/equal/ the same features.

f. Similar to/ equal to/ (just) like/the same as (act like prepositions)

- Used in front of Nouns

Example:

Like Riyadh, Jeddah has a major traffic problem.

&

Riyadh’s traffic problems are similar to/ (just) like/ the same as/ equal to Jeddah’s.

g. Equally (adverb)

- Describes an adjective

Example:

Riyadh and Jeddah are equally congested.

4. Paired Conjunctions

h. both…and/not only…also

- Always used together (i.e. paired)

* No commas needed

Example:

Both Mohammad and Ridha have excellent marks for their English 111 writing component.

=

Riyadh and Jeddah are not only exciting but also riveting.

* Remember, use a comma before as/just as

* describing: -features-

Bef. Noun

Before Noun

Both followed by Noun

Not only followed by Noun

And followed by Noun

= -Rules of Parallelism-

But also followed by Noun

= -Rules of Parallelism-