BASIC PRESENTATION

Grammar and Punctuation for writing

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Common grammar errors

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Summary

1. Sentence fragments 2. Pronoun-antecedent 3. Run-ons and comma splices 4. Subject-verb agreement

Index

3. Run-ons & Comma Splices

1. Sentence Fragments

What is it?

Five Ways to Fix a Run-on or Comma Splice

Three Ways to Turn a Fragment into a Complete Sentence

2. Pronoun- Antecedent Errors

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

What are they?

The General Rule

Choose the correct pronoun

Top 7 tips

Sentence Fragments

1. Sentence fragments

A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence, but actually isn’t a complete sentence. Sentence fragments are usually missing a subject or verb, or they do not express a complete thought. While it may be punctuated to look like a complete sentence, a fragment cannot stand on its own. Here are the distinguishing features of a sentence fragment:

It is missing a subject Example: Ran to the store faster than a rabbit. (Who ran?)

It is missing a verb or has the wrong verb form Example: My favorite history teacher. (What did the teacher do or say?)

It is a leftover phrase Example: For better or worse. (What is better or worse? What is it modifying?)

It is a misuse of “such as, for example, especially,” etc. Example: Such as, my brother was practicing martial arts. (It is unclear; did something happen when my brother was practicing martial arts?)

It is an abandoned clause Example: When my mother married my father. (What happened when “my mother married my father?”)

Three Ways to Turn a Fragment into a Complete Sentence

Revise

Rewrite

Attach

Revise the fragment by adding whatever is missing – subject, verb, complete thought.

Rewrite the fragment or the entire passage that contains the fragment.

Attach the fragment to a nearby complete sentence

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Incorrect: I forgot to eat breakfast. On the morning of my driver’s test. Correct: I forgot to eat breakfast on the morning of my driver’s test. Incorrect: If the front door is locked. Use the back entrance. Correct: If the front door is locked, use the back entrance.

Incorrect: Loves to lie around in the sun all day. (A subject is missing. Who loves to lie around?) Correct: My roommate’s pug loves to lie around in the sun all day. Incorrect: Joe to train every day. (A verb is missing. Also, “to train” is the wrong verb form. Joe does what every day?) Correct: Joe trains every day for the marathon next month. Correct: Joe is training every day for the marathon next month.

Incorrect: Our new landlord was expected to make changes. Such as fixing the plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate. Has not done any of it yet and weeks have passed. Correct: Our new landlord was expected to make changes, such as fixing the plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate lock. Weeks have passed, and he still has not done any of it yet.

Pronoun-Antecedent Errors

Pronoun-antecedent errors happen when a pronoun does not agree with its antecedent, which can create confusion in your writing. Pronouns are generic noun replacements such as him, her, it, and them. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces.

A sentence without pronouns: The student spent the weekend writing the student’s paper so that the student would have enough time to proofread the paper on Monday. The same sentence with pronouns: The student spent the weekend writing her paper so that she would have enough time to proofread it on Monday.

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Choose the correct pronoun

The information below can help you choose the correct pronoun. First person singular pronouns [ talking about yourself] are I, me First person plural pronouns [ talking about yourself and someone else/other people] are we, us Second person singular pronoun [ talking to one other person] is you Second person plural pronoun [talking to several other people at once] is you (all) Third person singular pronouns [talking about one other person or thing] are he, she, it, his, her, they, their, this Third person plural pronouns [talking about several other people or things] are they, them, these

Run-ons & Comma Splices

3. Run-ons & Comma Splices

The run-on sentence and comma splice are common punctuation errors that can create confusion in your writing.

Comma splice

Run-on sentence

A comma splice occurs when two or more complete sentences are joined only with a comma, which is not strong enough punctuation. This is an example of a comma splice: Joseph Cornell was an innovative American artist known for his shadow boxes and collages, his art became more famous after his death in 1972.

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined with no punctuation. Here's an example: Joseph Cornell was an innovative American artist known for his shadow boxes and collages his art became more famous after his death in 1972.

Five Ways to Fix a Run-on or Comma Splice

Add a period and a capital letter

Add a period and a capital letter to separate the sentences.

Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction

Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember as F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.—for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Try one of these methods to fix this problem

Add a semicolon

Add a semicolon if the sentences are closely related.

Add a “transitional word”

Add a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb—also known as a “transitional word”. When using a transitional word, the comma should be placed immediately after the transition.

Add a subordinating conjunction

Add a subordinating conjunction—also known as a “dependent word”—to the beginning or the middle of the sentence.

Subject-Verb Agreement

4. Subject-Verb Agreement💡

The General Rule The subject of a sentence should always agree with its verb in number and person. It can help to think of it this way: When the subject does NOT end in the letter “s,” the verb usually will. If the subject does end in the letter “s,” the verb will NOT. In other words: Add an “s” to the verb if the subject is third-person singular (he, she, it, Martha, Sam, etc.). Do not add an “s” if the subject is plural. However, the General Rule does not apply all the time. Refer to the following Top 7 Tips if you get stuck.

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Singular nouns ending in “s” that are not plural

Subjects that are joined by “and”

Two subjects that are joined by “and” usually take plural verbs. The word “and” connects the two subjects, making them plural. Therefore, do not add “s” to the verb. Example: Rock climbing and step aerobics are my favorite cardio exercises

Some nouns that end in “s” are singular subjects: physics, economics, news, athletics. Use a singular verb. Example: Physics was Dustin’s favorite subject in high school.

Subjects that are joined by “neither…nor” and “either…or”

Collective nouns

Use a singular verb with a collective noun, such as team, family, class, union, army, committee. Example: My family loves to go bowling every weekend.

When two subjects are joined by these words, the subject is one or the other. This means the subject is still singular. The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Titles of works, organizations, and businesses

Words that come in between subject and verb

Even if the titles and names are plural in form, use a singular verb. Example: The Whole Foods Market chain specializes in natural products and organic produce.

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We can understand images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.

Reversed word order

Typically, the verb follows the subject in a sentence. When the order is reversed, identify the subject so that you know what verb to use. Example: Down the list reads the hiring manager.

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Still confused? Please reach out to your instructor.