Introduction to Introduction to GrammarGrammar

The SentenceThe Sentence

• All sentences must have the All sentences must have the following:following:

1.1. SubjectSubject

2.2. PredicatePredicate

• All sentences must do the following:All sentences must do the following:1.1. Form a complete thoughtForm a complete thought

2.2. Begin with capital letter and end with a Begin with capital letter and end with a punctuation mark (. ? !)punctuation mark (. ? !)

The SubjectThe Subject

Definition: The subject is who or what theDefinition: The subject is who or what the

sentence is about.sentence is about.

Ex. Ex. My best friendMy best friend loves to swim. loves to swim.

HeHe knows a lot about history. knows a lot about history.

The subject is not just the noun or The subject is not just the noun or pronoun!pronoun!

The PredicateThe Predicate

Definition: Says or asks something about Definition: Says or asks something about thethe

subject or tells the subject to do subject or tells the subject to do something.something.

Ex. Ex. My mom My mom drove me to the storedrove me to the store

August August is the warmest monthis the warmest month..

The predicate is not just the verb!The predicate is not just the verb!

Phrases and ClausesPhrases and Clauses

Phrase – Part of a Phrase – Part of a sentencesentence

without a subject without a subject andand

predicate.predicate.

Ex. Ex. After workAfter work, I , I drank adrank a

glass of milk.glass of milk.

Clause – Part of a Clause – Part of a sentencesentence

that contains a subject that contains a subject andand

predicate.predicate.

Ex. Ex. Although I quit Although I quit mymy

jobjob, I still have lots of, I still have lots of

money.money.

More ClausesMore Clauses

• Dependent ClauseDependent Clause– cannot stand alone cannot stand alone

as a sentenceas a sentence– does not express a does not express a

complete thoughtcomplete thought

Ex. Ex. When I went to When I went to ItalyItaly,,

I lost my wallet.I lost my wallet.

• Independent Independent ClauseClause– could be a sentence could be a sentence

by itselfby itself– expresses a expresses a

complete thoughtcomplete thought

Ex. When I went to Ex. When I went to Italy, Italy, II

lost my walletlost my wallet..

Problems with SentencesProblems with Sentences

1.1.Run-on sentencesRun-on sentences

2.2.Comma splicesComma splices

3.3.FragmentsFragments

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Definition: A run-on sentence contains Definition: A run-on sentence contains two ortwo or

more independent clauses with no more independent clauses with no punctuation orpunctuation or

connector between them.connector between them.

Ex. I like basketball it is the best sport Ex. I like basketball it is the best sport ever myever my

best friend Tyler loves it too.best friend Tyler loves it too.

Three SolutionsThree Solutions

Run-on sentences can be fixed in three Run-on sentences can be fixed in three waysways

1.1. A period (.)A period (.)

2.2. A semicolon (;) joins independent A semicolon (;) joins independent clausesclauses

3.3. A comma A comma plusplus a coordinating a coordinating conjunctionconjunction

– FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, soFANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

The Comma SpliceThe Comma SpliceDO NOT USE JUST A COMMA TO FIX ADO NOT USE JUST A COMMA TO FIX A

RUN-ON SENTENCE!!! RUN-ON SENTENCE!!!

This is a comma splice.This is a comma splice.

Ex. I like basketball, it is the best sport Ex. I like basketball, it is the best sport ever.ever.

You can fix this three ways:You can fix this three ways:

I like basketball. It is the best sport ever.I like basketball. It is the best sport ever.

I like basketball; it is the best sport ever.I like basketball; it is the best sport ever.

I like basketball, and it is the best sport I like basketball, and it is the best sport ever.ever.

Sentence FragmentsSentence Fragments

Fragments are posers! They are parts of Fragments are posers! They are parts of sentencessentences

pretending to be complete ones.pretending to be complete ones.

Examples:Examples:

To catch a thiefTo catch a thief. We must be vigilant at all. We must be vigilant at all

times.times.

I remember one thing about the Bulls. I remember one thing about the Bulls. The The threethree

point shot scored by John Paxton.point shot scored by John Paxton.