ACT UBMS English/Reading Summer 2012 Sentence Structure

Today’s Agenda Review passages. Review Sentence Structure. Watch a few videos! Yes,

Of the 40 Usage/Mechanics questions, eighteen will test you on your knowledge of sentence structure. Connecting and Transitional Words Subordinate or Dependent Clauses Sentence Fragments Comma Splices Run-on Sentences Misplaced Modifiers Parallelism

Connecting and Transitional Words FAN BOYS For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Conjunctive Adverbs however, also, consequently, nevertheless, thus,  moreover, furthermore, for example Subordinating Conjunctions AAAWWWUUBBIS List of subordinating conjunctions here.

Subordinate or Independent CLAUSES On ACT will be asked to select the most appropriate conjunction. What is a clause? Yes! Has a subject and a verb! Subordinate YES, has a S + V NO, does not express a complete thought. Independent = Sentence YES, has a S + V YES, does express a complete thought.

Sentence Fragments Most sentence fragments on the English Test will be subordinate or dependent clauses trying to be complete sentences. CAUTION! Fragments may LOOK like a sentence BUT they do not SOUND like a sentence. DO NOT express a complete thought. We didn’t go outside. Even though the rain had stopped.  A. NO CHANGE B. outside; C. outside; even D. outside, even We didn’t go outside. While the rain continued to fall. F. NO CHANGE G. Although the H. The J. Since the  

Comma Splices CS occurs when two independent clauses are joined together by a comma with no intervening conjunction. For example, Bowen walked to the park, Leah followed behind. Three ways to correct a Comma Splice , FAN BOY . Cap ;

Run-On Sentences Run-on sentences as comma splices minus the commas.For example, Joan runs every day she is preparing for a marathon. John likes to walk his dog through the park Kevin doesn’t. Three ways to correct a Run-on Sentence… , FAN BOY . Cap ;

Misplaced Modifiers WARNING! Watch for the humor! Bill packed his favorite clothes in his suitcase, which he planned to wear on vacation. Click here for more examples at Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips. View video here.

Parallelism = When you see a list underlined on the English Test, look for a parallelism error. Parallelism errors occur when items in a list are mismatched. WRONG: In the pool area, there is no spitting, no running, and don’t throw your water bottles in the water. RIGHT: In the pool area, there is no spitting, no running, and no throwing your water bottles in the water. CORRECT THIS ONE: The personal ad said that she likes “books, good food, and to take long walks on the beach.” Edit these sentences. Complete these sentences.

Yay!

Work Cited “ACT Sparks Note Test Prep: Punctuation.” Spark Notes. 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter5section1.rhtml