Grammar!

Week 2, Part 2

Today

1. 6 Biggest Grammar Errors2. Punctuation

Word of the Day

Mitigate

To lessen intensity, to make something less severe

In The Informant! Matt Damon’s character’s jail sentence is never mitigated.

Grammar Questions

1. Why is grammar important?2. How have you learned grammar in the

past?

Biggest Grammar Errors

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject-verb agreement5. Dangling participle6. Wrong word

1. Parallel Structure

For a sentence to be parallel: All grammatical elements need to match Items in a list need to match

1. Parallel Structure

Abused children commonly exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: withdrawal, rebelliousness, restlessness, and they are depressed.

Hooked on romance novels, I learned there is nothing more important than being rich, looking good, and to have a good time.

1. Parallel Structure

Grammatical elements: The actor was handsome, articulate, and he

loved to look at himself in the mirror.

People who are in debt should give up credit cards, borrowing money, eating out in expensive restaurants, and living above their means.

They divorced because the husband thought that no one should read while he was talking, and the wife thought that while she was reading no one should talk.

1. Parallel Structure

“than” or “as” It is better to light a candle than curse the

darkness. My grades are just as good as Stephanie.

1. Parallel Structure

After assuring us that he was sober, Sam drove down the middle of the road, ran one red light, and two stop signs.

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject agreement5. Dangling modifier6. Wrong word

2. Comma Splices and Run-ons Comma splices and Run-ons Same problem: two independent clauses

fused together improperly

Comma splice:Subject verb, subject verb

I love ice cream, I love chocolateRun on:Subject verb subject verb

I love ice cream I love chocolate

Comma Splices

Dependent clause Cannot stand alone as a sentence May be missing a subject, a verb, or

have both but also a subordinating conjunction.

Example: Before I leave, I want to dance.

Comma Splices

Independent clause Can stand alone as a sentence Has at least a subject and a verb Example: The star shines.

Try It!

Comma Splices

Two independent clauses cannot be fused together on their own.

Comma Splices

Comma Splice: When a comma is doing the work of period. Comma is too weak to take this role Comma = weak Period = strong

Comma Splices

Examples His new album has an interesting picture

on the cover, in other words the cover demands attention.

Hand gestures are important for everyone, however they are a means of survival for the hearing impaired.

Tools We Need:

Coordinating Conjunction (“co-con”) FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Subordinating Conjunctions (“sub-cons”) Examples: after, although, as, because,

before, even though, if, once, rather, than, since, that, though, unless, while

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on1. Stronger punctuation2. Use a coordinating conjunction3. Make one phrase dependent

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on1. Use stronger punctuation

1. Period2. Semi-colon and a transitional phrase

1. Examples: also, anyway, besides, furthermore, incidentally, moreover, otherwise, thus, however, in addition

He’s an excellent swimmer; he won an Olympic medal.

He’s an excellent swimmer. He won an Olympic medal.

He’s not a good swimmer; however, he enjoys the water.

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on2. Add a coordinating conjunction

FANBOYS

He’s an excellent swimmer, and he won an Olympic medal.

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on3. Make one phrase dependent

with a subordinating word.by changing it entirely

He is recognized as a great swimmer because he won an Olympic medal.

His great swimming ability won him an Olympic medal.

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject agreement5. Dangling modifier6. Wrong word

3. Fragments

Missing a subject, a verb, or includes a subordinating word.

Fragments/Incomplete Sentences

Easy to recognize apart from other sentences.

Difficult to recognize next to related sentences.

Fragments/Incomplete Sentences

Example: On the old wooden stool in the corner of my grandma’s kitchen.

Example: And immediately popped their flares and life vests.

On that morning I sat in my usual spot. On the wooden stool in the corner of my grandma’s kitchen.

The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water. And immediately popped their flares and life vests.

Test Your Sentence!

YES!

YES!

No!

Is there a verb?

Is there a verb?

Is there a subject?Is there a subject?

Is there just a subordinate clause or

phrase?

Is there just a subordinate clause or

phrase?

Complete Sentence!

Complete Sentence!

NoFragme

ntFragme

nt

NoFragme

ntFragme

nt

YES.

Fragment

Fragment

How to Fix a Fragment

1. Attach the fragment to a nearby sentence.

2. Turn the fragment into a sentence.

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject agreement5. Dangling modifier6. Wrong word

4. Subject-verb agreement

Subject and verb must agree in gender and number

Subject and antecedent must agree in gender and number.

Subject-verb agreement:

The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.

High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.

Subject-verb Agreement

What’s an indefinite pronoun? Anybody Anyone Each Either Everybody Neither Nobody No one

Subject-verb Agreement

Indefinite pronouns are treated as singular Example: Each of the students has a

textbook now. Example: Everybody who signed up for the

tours is able to go.

What about collective nouns?

More Agreement

Example: When someone has been drinking, they are likely to speed.

Example: Every runner must train rigorously if they want to excel.

Example: If a medical student wants to get a job, he must study every day.

Ways to Fix Agreement Errors1. Replace the plural pronoun with “he or she” or

“his or her.”2. Make the antecedent plural.3. Rewrite the sentence completely.Example:1. When someone has been drinking, he or she is

likely to speed.2. When drivers have been drinking, they are likely

to speed.3. A driver who has been drinking is likely to

speed.

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject agreement5. Dangling modifier6. Wrong word

Dangling Modifier

Dangling Modifier:

A modifier that does not refer logically to any word in the sentence. It suggests but does not name the true subject.

Dangling Modifier

Diseased, the farmers disposed of the potatoes.

Checking the call display while biking, a dog ran in front of me.

Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically pumped Joe’s hand.

Upon entering the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my attention.

Dangling Modifier

Though only sixteen, UCLA accepted Martha’s application.

To please the children, some fireworks were set off a day early.

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject-verb agreement5. Dangling modifier6. Wrong word

6. Wrong Word

Affect/Effect Its/it’s Allot/a lot Who’s whose Your/you’re They’re/their/there

Try It!

6 Biggest Grammar Errors

1. Parallel structure2. Comma splices/run-ons3. Fragments4. Subject-verb agreement5. Dangling participle6. Wrong word

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