Sentence StructureThose Pesky Conjunctions/Punctuation and

Verb Tense Rules 1

Using Conjunctions and Punctuation in Sentences for Correct Sentence Structure

Conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses. They can easily be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS

There are several ways sentences can be joined. We can use conjunctions or punctuation.

The Sentence Patterns

What Do They Look Like?For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, Since

Sometimes, all it takes to join some sentences is a comma. This is the most overlooked of the rules.It would look like this:Sentence Fragment + , + Independent ClauseBecause I took my dog outside , I was able to get some fresh air . SF C IC PBecause I took my dog outside, I was able to get some fresh air.A Conjunction can be used two ways:1. Independent Clause + , + Conjunction, + Independent Clause Mark said he was tired , yet he watched the entire movie . IC C CJ IC PMark said he was tired, yet he watched the entire movie.2. Independent Clause + Conjunction + Dependent ClauseMark said he was tired but watched the entire movie . IC CJ DC PMark said he was tired but watched the entire movie.

The Patterns Used with Conjunctions and Punctuation are as Follows:Fixing Sentence Fragments: SF + C + IC + P= CS, Joining Independents: IC + C + CJ + IC + P =CS,

Fixing a Dependent Clause: IC + CJ + DC + P = CS 2

The Odds and Ends of Sentence Structure

What is the difference between joining with Conjunctive Adverbs and Conjunctions?

What is Verb Tense?What happens to the Verb

Tense when combining sentences?

The Sentence Patterns

A Conjunctive Adverb is an adverb used to join Independent Clauses. Remember the list from Monday. A Conjunction is not an adverb, yet it can be used to join two Independent Clauses or an Independent Clause and a Dependent Clause.

A Conjunction can be used different ways:1. Independent Clause + , + Conjunction + Independent Clause2. Dependent Clause + Conjunction + Independent Clause3. Independent Clause + Conjunction + Dependent ClauseLet’s talk about Verb Tense. When you join two clauses, you have to

make certain that the tense of the verb does not change. Remember, there are three basic ways a verb is presented:

Present Tense = isPast Tense = wasFuture = will beTo combine sentences, if you are not careful the verb tense will look like

this: Because I TAKE my dog outside , I WAS able to get some fresh air . SF PRT C IC PAT PTo keep the verb tense the same, we have to change one side to match the

other:Because I TOOK my dog outside , I WAS able to get some fresh air . SF PAT C IC PAT P

Conjunctions can be used several ways: IC + , + CJ + IC; DC + CJ + IC; IC + CJ + DCIt is important to check that verb tenses are the same on both sides of the equation:

Present + Present, Past + Past, Future + Future They should also maintain the integrity of the passage. If it is past tense, the verbs will be past tense and so on and so forth. 3

Let’s Take a Quiz

Choose the sentence that is written correctly.1. a. I will go so you can stay home. b. I will go; so you can stay home. c. I will go so, you can stay home. d. I will go, so you can stay home.

2. a. Anna come to the meeting but had to leave early. b. Anna came to the meeting; but had to leave early. c. Anna come to the meeting, but had to leave early. d. Anna came to the meeting but, had to leave early.

3. a. Dinosaurs are extinct so we are not afraid. b. Dinosaurs are, extinct so we are not afraid. c. Dinosaurs are extinct, so we are not afraid. d. Dinosaurs are extinct so, we are not afraid.

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Let’s Take a Quiz

Choose the sentence that is written correctly.4. a. Fifty girls signed up for a prom dress but, they had to close the contest. b. Fifty girls signed up for a prom dress but they, had to close the contest. c. Fifty girls signed up for a prom dress, but they had to close the contest. d. Fifty girls signed up for a, prom dress but they had to close the contest.

5. a. Liam left the house, and forgot his books. b. Liam left the house and, forgot his books. c. Liam, left the house and forgot his books. d. Liam left the house and forgot his books.

Do you think you know these? Let’s look at the answers:

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The Answers

1.D2.A3.C4.C5.D

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# Correct Grade %

5 100%4 80%3 60%2 40%1 20%0 0%

# Correct Grade %

2 100%1 50%0 0%

Well, how did you do??? As well as you think you did? I hope so! There will be TWO questions on

the Teacher-Created Interim Assessment (TCIA) next week.

Know them!

Since there are only TWO of these on the TCIA, this

is what your grade will look like depending on how many you answer

correctly!

Works Cited:English Exercise, Inc. "Conjunctive Adverbs." 2011. English Exercises, Inc. 19 Nov 2011. <http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1565>.