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Simple grammar cheat sheet: Difference between revisions
→Punctuation
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=== Joining sentence parts === | === Joining sentence parts === | ||
== | * note: | ||
** IC = Independent Clause | |||
** DC = Dependent Clause | |||
** PHr = Phrase | |||
=== | === periods . === | ||
* '''periods''' separate sentences | |||
* periods do '''ONE''' thing = | |||
# separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences | |||
click EXPAND to see what PERIODS do & how to eliminate using the rule: | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
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<u>periods</u>: | |||
* periods separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences | |||
* notes: | |||
** if the sentence is grammatically or logically incomplete, it cannot end there with a period | |||
*** i.e., SUBJECT VERB and an object or subject complement if needed to make sense | |||
** note that "interjection" verbs do not have an explicit SUBJECT, but can still create a complete sentence | |||
*** ex. "Go to the store." or "Stop!" | |||
** same for exclamations | |||
*** ex. "Ouch." (can stand as a sentence, although exclamations usually are punctuated by exclamation points (!) | |||
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=== | === semicolons ; === | ||
* combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them | |||
** as opposed to periods which completely separate the ideas/ thoughts | |||
* semicolons do '''ONE''' thing: | |||
# combine ICs | |||
* note that semicolons can -- but rarely: | |||
** separate a list of IC's: | |||
*** as in "IC; IC; IC; IC." | |||
** separate a list of common examples, usually following a colon | |||
*** as in, "IC: this; that; the other thing." | |||
**** ex. "''On our trip, we will visit tons of places: in Africa, Egypt & Morrocco; in Europe, Greece and Italy; and in Asia, Turkey."'' | |||
*** | |||
click EXPAND to see what SEMICOLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
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<u>semicolons</u>: | |||
# combine two ICs | |||
#* "School is boring; I should go anyway"= IC; IC | |||
* can also create a list of IC's (IC; IC; IC; IC.) | |||
** "School is boring; I already know that stuff; I should go anyway" = "IC; IC; IC | |||
* notes: | |||
** semicolons must have IC (could be complete sentences & thoughts) on both sides of the semicolon | |||
*** i.e., if the two clauses on either side of the semicolon would not stand on their own as grammatically complete sentences and thoughts, the semicolon is incorrect | |||
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=== | === commas , === | ||
* create pauses | |||
* commas do '''FIVE''' things: | |||
click EXPAND to see what COMMAS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | |||
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<u>commas</u>: | |||
# combine IC, DC, or DC, IC | |||
#* or IC, Phr or Phr, IC | |||
#** ex. "He ate fast, which upset his stomach" = IC, DC | |||
#** ex. "After eating too fast, his stomach was upset" = Phr, IC | |||
#*** (prepositional phrase, independent clause) | |||
# combine ICs | |||
#* ''but only with a coordinating conjunction'' (FANBOYS), i.e., IC, and IC | |||
#* ex.: "IC, and IC" or "IC, but IC" | |||
#** "They played hard, and they won big" = IC, and IC | |||
#** "They played hard, but they lost" = IC, but IC | |||
# separate lists (subjects, verbs, objects) | |||
#* ex.: S, S and S V, V O, O and O | |||
# act parenthetically | |||
#* ", .... ," (like these parentheses) | |||
#** The movie, which was about Ancient Rome, was very informative" = S, .... , V | |||
# introduce a direct quotation | |||
#* ex. "The judge declared, "Guilty!" | |||
* notes: | |||
** commas can only separate a S-V or V-O if acting parenthetically | |||
** commas CANNOT combine two ICs without a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) | |||
** 1 or more commas can separate multiple subjects, verbs or objects from one another | |||
*** "Joey, Joella and Josephina jumped for joy" | |||
**** = a single comma between the subject "Joey" and its verb "jumped" because the comma creates a list and not a grammatical separation of the subject and verb | |||
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=== | === colons : === | ||
* distinguish additional information following an IC, usually a list, explanation, or example to clarify or extend the idea presented in the IC | |||
* colons = do '''ONE''' thing: | |||
# extend or provide examples in support of a prior IC | |||
#* i.e., colons follow a complete statement with an extended idea or example/s | |||
#** ''The prosecutor presented the evidence: a fingerprint, the weapon, and a written confession" = IC: list | |||
* note that colons <U>DO NOT</u>: | |||
** follow a dependent clause | |||
** interrupt a clause or requisite (essential, required) elements in a sentence | |||
*** ex., "''I went to the store''': because''' I needed some supplies''" | |||
**** the colon here interrupts the connection between "I went to the store" and the reason why, "because..." | |||
*** or "''She knew''': that''' it was the right thing to do''" | |||
**** the colon here interrupts the requisite relative pronoun "that" and the clause it creates | |||
** have multiple colons in a sentence | |||
click EXPAND to see what COLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
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<u>colons</u>: | |||
# extend or provide examples following an IC | |||
* what follows the colon can be in any grammatical form (IC, DC, phrase) | |||
** except a conjunction (as in : I bought shoes: and some socks (= incorrect) | |||
** or a required (requisite) phrase or clause ("I bought shoes: that fit" = incorrect) | |||
** colons are usually followed by a list or an example | |||
** a colon may set up a direct quotation, such as: | |||
*** ''The lawyer claimed the accusation was wrong: "He's innocent!"'' = IC: IC | |||
* note: | |||
** a colon must be preceded by an IC | |||
** it can be followed by anything except for another colon | |||
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=== | === dashes -- === | ||
* separate ideas within a sentence, either parenthetically or like a colon | |||
=== | * dashes do '''TWO''' things: | ||
# act like a colon | |||
# act like parentheses (...) = -...- | |||
click EXPAND to see what DASHES do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
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<u>dashes</u>: | |||
# act like a colon | |||
#* ex. "She left stuff behind -- a plastic ring, a cheap phone, and a pencil" = IC -- list | |||
# act like parentheses (...) = -...- | |||
#* The stuff that she left behind -- a plastic ring, a cheap phone, and a pencil -- wasn't that expensive" | |||
* notes: | |||
** if there is NOT another dash in the sentence, then the dash is NOT acting parenthetically (...) | |||
** if the dash is operating as a colon, it must be preceded by an IC | |||