1. Grammar Made Easy PVCC Grammar Workshops Sponsored by The Writing Center

2. Why do you need to know grammar anyway? l Grammar is the glue that holds your writing together l Punctuation communicates connections and divisions in the flow of ideas. l If you do not master language, the writing process will overwhelm you. l Your accuracy in writing often conveys a first impression to others in the business world.

3. To understand the construction of a sentence, you need to know the names of some of its parts. l The butterfly drifted over a field of sand. l The campus is seldom empty. l Pedro loved to eat. * A subject is the person, place, or thing that is the topic of a sentence.

4. A verb expresses action in a sentence. l The surfboard skimmed the surface of the water. l Becky feels ill this evening. l Keri longed for an email from her best friend. *

5. Sub. + Verb = Clause l The eucalyptus tree groaned in the storm. l The salamander scuttled for cover. l The old hound snuffled at the door. l Skateboarding is the best thing in life.

6. A sentence is an independent clause. It stands by itself and makes sense. l Things go better with Coke. l Friends are forever. l In your dreams. * Which of the selections below is not an independent clause?

7. The ending punctuation for an independent clause is a period. A comma splice occurs when a writer uses a comma where a period belongs. Example: The children looked tired, they cried easily.

8. A run-on sentence occurs when the writer fails to use any punctuation between independent clauses. Example: The children looked tired they cried easily.*

9. Coordinating Conjunctions are connectors. Independent clauses may be connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction. FANBOYS orndorutreto forandnorbutoryetso Example: The children looked tired, and they cried easily.*

10. A dependent clause l Has a subject and a verb l Does not make sense by itself l Is not a sentence l Depends on an independent clause to make sense Example: because he ate too much

11. Dependent clauses are made dependent by connectors called “subordinating conjunctions.” becauseafteralthoughbefore whenifsincewhether untilasthatwhile thenthough *

12. Fragments When writers punctuate subordinating clauses like sentences, they create fragments. Examples: If that’s what you want. If that’s what you want. Until we meet again. Until we meet again. Since he was a child. * Since he was a child. *

13. “Ing” fragments “Ing” fragments Descriptive phrases that begin with “ing” words must be connected to a sentence. l Pursuing her dream, she enrolled in college. l The young bobcat carried its prey up the mountain, trailing fresh blood on the rocks. l Starving after his run, Ben ate two quarter pound hamburgers.

14. “Ing” fragments occur when descriptive “ing” phrases are punctuated as if they were sentences. l Pursuing her dream. l Trailing fresh blood on the rocks. l Starving after his run. *

15. Let’s Review l Subject + Verb = Clause l An independent clause can stand alone and may be punctuated as a sentence. l A dependent clause cannot stand alone.

16. Review l A comma splice occurs when a writer uses a comma between sentences instead of a period. l A run-on sentence occurs when a writer fails to use any punctuation between independent clauses. l A fragment occurs when a dependent clause or “ing” phrase is punctuated like a sentence.