Grammar Guide

1. Sentence/Complete Sentence

Sentence Fragment: Subject verb

Subordinate Conjunctions: after, although, as, as if, as though, because, before, except, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whereas

Relative Pronouns: that, what, whatever, which, who, whoever, whom, whose

• Run on sentence

Fused sentence

Two independent clauses with out punctuation between comma splice

• Capitalization

The first word of a direct quotation. (“We are going home,” said Dad.)

• Commas to Make Meanings Clear

Use commas to set off appositives (a word, phrase, title, or degree used directly after another word or names to explain it.)

Use a comma to set off two or more introductory prepositional phrases

Use a comma when separating two or more adjectives

Use a comma when writing a complex sentence in which the subordinate conjunctions such as: after, although, as, as soon, because (As soon as he can, Francisco has a lot of homework to do as soon as he can)

• Semicolons

Use semicolons to separate independent clauses that are brief and closely related. This works best with cause and effect information. (Kristi’s skating routine is the best; she won six gold medals. It rained all day; our picnic was cancelled.)

•  Commonly Confused Words
• WHO-used as a subject or as a subject complement (see above)

ex: John is the man who can get the job done.

• WHOM-used as an object

ex: Whom did Sarah choose as her replacement?

• THROUGH-by means of; finished; into or out of

ex: He plowed right through the other team’s defensive line.

• THREW-past tense of throw

ex: She threw away his love letters.

• THOROUGH-careful or complete

ex: John thoroughly cleaned his room; there was not even a speck of dust when he finished.

• THOUGH-however; nevertheless

ex: He’s really a sweetheart though he looks tough on the outside.

• THRU-abbreviated slang for through; not appropriate in standard writing

ex: We’re thru for the day!

• APART-to be separated

ex: The chain-link fence kept the angry dogs apart. OR My old car fell apart before we reached California.

• A PART-to be joined with

ex: The new course was a part of the new field of study at the university. OR A part of this plan involves getting started at dawn.