Chapter 7

Gianna Scionti, Gustavo Sanchez, Bridget Thompson, Kenecia David, Rachel Jones, and Peyton Foley
Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is not a complete sentence but rather a sentence lacking a subject
and/or a predicate(verb).

Example: Swimming to France via the English Channel.

What is it missing?
How can this be made into a complete sentence?
Who is doing the swimming?

Correction: She was swimming to France via the English Channel.

Sentence Fragments
In some cases, a sentence contains both a subject and a predicate(verb) yet it is still
considered a run on sentence.

Example: When she drove to the store to buy some high priced coffee.

In this example, the sentence contains both a subject (she) and a predicate (drove).
However, when you use a subordinating junction, you create a subordinate, also called
a dependent, clause.

A dependent clause, unlike an independent clause, cannot stand alone. We must either
combine the dependent clause with an independent clause, or get rid of the
subordinating junction.

Correction: She drove to the store to buy some high priced coffee.

Subordinating Junctions: When, if, because, while, after, unless, until, although, etc.
The Three Types of Sentences
The Simple Sentence

This sentence type has one subject and at least one predicate

Example: He bet on many losing hedge funds.

Or to put it even more simply

Example: He bet.
The Three Types of Sentences
The Compound Sentence

This sentence typically combines two types of simple sentences using either a comma
and a coordination junction or a semicolon

Example 1: He bet a lot of money on stocks, so he decided to become a Buddhist monk.

Example 2: He bet a lot of money on stocks; he became a Buddhist monk.

Coordinating Junctions: or, but, and, so

The Three Types of Sentences
The Complex Sentence

This sentence also combines clauses. One independent clause (a simple sentence) is
combined with one or more dependent clauses.

Dependent Clause: When the real estate market collapsed.

Independent Clause: His wife stashed their remaining funds into certificates of deposit.

Example: When the real estate market collapsed, his wife stashed their remaining
funds into certificates of deposit.
The Comma Splice
The comma splice is a common grammatical error when combining two independent
clauses that can be properly corrected with a compound sentence.

Example: She checked the report for errors, he became annoyed and defensive.

Take note that the only thing holding these two independent clauses together is a
comma, therefore the writer has attempted to splice the two sentences together with
only a comma. THIS IS BAD!

This can be fixed by adding a coordinating junction or a semicolon to create a

compound sentence.

Correction 1: She checked the report for errors, and he became annoyed and defensive.

Correction 2: She checked the report for errors; he became annoyed and defensive.
The Run- On Sentence
Made when a writer attempts to cram two or more independent clauses together
as if they were one sentence.

How to Fix a Run-On Sentence

Make it into two simple sentences

Make it into a complex sentence

Example: The auditors invaded the office they found a mountain of evidence.
Instead try:
The auditors invaded the office, they found a mountain of evidence.
The auditors invaded the office. They found a mountain of evidence.
Conjunctive Adverbs
These are words we like to use when we move from an idea to idea or a thought
to thought.

Examples:

Anyway, Besides, Consequently, Finally, Furthermore, However, Instead,

Meanwhile, Moreover, Nevertheless, Otherwise, Subsequently, Therefore, Thus
Conjunctive Adverbs
Common Problem:

Make sure not to make a comma splice error when using a conjunctive adverb.

Example: He sold his stock before the end of the day, nevertheless, he ended up losing
a lot of his initial investment.

There should be a semicolon after day.

It should be used as a transitional marker (shown below).

Example: One marketing strategy, nevertheless, may face potential losses there
Confusion with who & whom and I & me
Use who and I as the subject of sentences and clauses; use whom and me as the
object of a verb or preposition.
Example: Who placed the phone on his chair?
(who did the actio, placed)
Example: Kristin and I presented the figures at last months convention.
(Both Kristin and I did the action, presented)
Michael, who just finished his MBA, was promoted to the unit supervisor
position.
(Who is the subject of the clause who just finished his MBA)
Confusion with who & whom and I & me
Whom did you compose that letter for?
(Whom is the object of the preposition for)
He recommended Kate and me for raises
(Me is the subject of the verb recommended)

As a test, substitute he and him for a pronoun decision thats giving you trouble. If
he sounds correct, then use a subject pronoun such as who or I. If him sounds
correct, then use an object pronoun like whom or me.
More Miscellaneous Grammar Issues
You have no problem with (I, me, my) driving to town, do you?
My driving to town is correct. The problem is not with me but a problem with the trip to town.
In this checkout line, each customer must have ten items or (fewer, less).
Ten items or less is correct. Less refers to bulk quantities. Fewer refers to individual objects.
Ex. Less sand. Fewer grains of sand.
Guidelines were set to (insure, ensure) accuracy
The policy (insures, ensures) his family
Ensure: To guarantee
Insure: Refers to insurance
Three years ago after selling all real estate investments, the Dino Corp family was
the laughingstock of the investment world. Now (its, theyre) having the final
laugh
The write chose the phrase Dino Corp family and the singular verb was. Therefore, the singular
its is correct.
Other Grammar Issues
Trickiness with subject/verb agreement: there can be an issue when there is a
plural noun between a verb and its subject.
Examples:
The city commissioners days as a financial investor on Washington Boulevard may be
numbered, but his involvement in redevelopment efforts are about to change.
Correction: The verb should be IS, because the subject, involvement, is
singular.
The corporations bid to make history and boost its dwindling share in the markets
were dashed by the third quarter earnings reports of the fiscal year.
Correction: The verb should be WAS, because the subject, bid, is singular.
Difficulties with Singular and Plural Possessives
To show possession for a singular noun, the apostrophe should be placed between
the word and the s.
Example:
The supervisors
The corporations
To show possession for a plural noun, the apostrophe should be placed after the s.
Example:
Workers
Companies

* This can help to inform the reader whether the noun is plural or singular.

For names that end in s or x, either of the two placements can be used, as long as you are
consistent
Questions:
1. We choose colors based on all of our __________ needs.
a. Clients
b. Clients
2. We meet the city, state, and national __________ standards for quality control.
a. Governments
b. Governments
3. The __________ tasks will be finished after it explains its position.
a. Committees
b. Committees
4. Two of our __________ monitors need to be checked.
a. Computers
b. Computers
5. The __________ annual leave program is good.
a. Firms
b. Firms
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
What is a Modifier?

- Basically is a word or phrase that describes something (typically noun) in a little more detail.
(Verbal phrases, clauses, and phrases of result are modifiers that contain several words)

1. A common dangling modifier problem is the verbal participial phrase at the beginning of the
sentence.

Ex.: Jumping into the taxi, the briefcase struck the door. (Did the briefcase jump?)

Correction: As she jumped into the taxi, her briefcase struck the door.

2. Another common dangler is the verbal phrase that follows a preposition.

Ex.: Upon graduating from Sylvester Public High School, my mom let me work with her clients.
(Did the mother just graduate high school?)

Correction: Upon graduating from Sylvester Public High School, I worked with my mothers clients.
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
3. An elliptical phrase can also lead to misunderstandings. The reader will assume that both
sides of the comma will have the same subject.

Ex.: When five years old, my mother went to law school and then moved to Florida.

Correction: When I was five year old, my mother went to law school and then moved to Florida.

4. The so-called dangling phrase of result can also lead to confusion. This phrase is often tacked
on at the end of the sentence.

Ex.: The air was icy and frigid, thus leaving me shivering in my bed.

Correction: I shivered in my bed because the air was icy and frigid.
Problems with Pronouns and Antecedents
Pronouns are what you already know (he, she, they, it), while the antecedents are the words these
pronouns represent. (Pronouns needs to agree with their antecedents in person and number)

Two problems can occur with pronouns and their antecedents:

1. Be sure the reader understands the pronoun used in a sentence connects to the correct
antecedent.
2. Remember that pronouns should match-up with their antecedents is number and person.

Things to Avoid:

a. Avoid the informal use of It

Ex.: It says that the medicine fights alcohol poisoning.

Correction: The label says that the medicine fights alcohol poisoning.
b. The indefinite you or they is common in informal writing, but should not be used in
business writing.

Ex.: In Key West they catch huge lobsters.

Correction: Huge lobsters are caught in Key West

c. Do not force readers to create their own antecedent.

Ex.: If a kid is a model car fanatic, his brother should love them too.

Correction: If a kid loves model cars, his brother should love them too.

d. Do not let a pronoun seem to refer to two possible antecedents.

Ex.: Max told Hank he was making as much sense as possible.

Correction: Max said to Hank, Youre making as much sense as possible

Hyphens { - } and Dashes { -- }
Hyphens are used to create hyphenated words.
Click hyphen key once.
Example: bird-like, non- fiction, a random-thought speech

Dashes work as a punctuation mark, similar to a comma. It often marks an abrupt

or strong change of meaning within a sentence.
Click hyphen key twice.
Example: Excellent soccer players -- note the word excellent -- will not have to participate in
the skills drills.
Semicolons { ; } and Colons { : }
Semicolon
Generally used to link-up two independent clauses to form a compound sentence.
Example: I have a big test tomorrow; I cant go out tonight.
Colons
Used to set-off a list of words or phrases.
Example: The apostrophe has several uses: forming possessives for indefinite pronouns and
nouns, making contractions, and forming plurals for letters and numbers.
Parallel Structure
Parallel structure mean that several phrases in a series of two or more should all
being the same way.
Example: The U.S. National Team during the World Cup learned that passing the ball accurately,
playing aggressive defense, and making dangerous players helped to earn positive results.

Each of the phrases in the middle of the above sentence begin the same way: they
each begin with an -ing verb (passing, playing, marking). Thus, the sentence has
parallel structure.
Homonym and Word Twin Errors
Dont mix up these commonly confused words.

Examples:

1. There Their Theyre

2. To Too Two
3. Its ( shows possession) Its (a contraction for it is)
4. Know No
5. Your Youre
6. Accept ( to receive something) Except ( to leave something out)
7. Morale ( noun -- attitude, spirit) Moral (adjective -- good, virtuous)