#amwriting #Grammar 4. Glimpses into Clauses, Conjunctions, with Closing Comments on Commas

This is the fourth of four posts on common grammar errors, omissions, and misunderstandings. 

Here's the link to a "bonus" grammar glimpse: 

How Good Grammar Saves Lives and Other Reasons It’s Still Important

It's packed with examples and explanations. 

Thanks to Dave Adams <dave@safenetexperts.com> 

Most writers have grammar issues. The issues chosen for this blog series are some that I experience in my writing.  The issue with each issue in the series ranges from significant to bothersome in my writing.

I teach a technical writing class to nurses in the BS-Nursing program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Early versions of the course focused on rules of English grammar. I've shifted the focus to the importance of editing. If you search my past blogs, you'll find LOTS of instruction, information, and insistence on the importance of editing.

The above paragraph does not mean good grammar is not important in your writing. The four blogs in this series present information that I’ve gleaned, remembered or learned about grammar while in the role of a writing teacher. I know that teaching this class helped my writing. I’m running this series--and following it was a series on adverb use/abuse--with high hopes that both series will help your writing, too.

If you don’t experience any of these issues in your writing, I hope you realize how fortunate you are!

This glimpse begins with

Clauses

Independent Clauses (IC)

• An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.
• They can live on their own. 
• An independent clause is a sentence.

Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

 

Dependent Clauses (DC)

• A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.
• They rely on the rest of the sentence for meaning.
• A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.
• They often depend on a dependent marker word for connection to the IC.
• Another clue you have a DC is the presence of a subordinating conjunction (because, since) or a relative pronoun (who, when)—see below,

When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)

BONUS TIP!!

Dependent Marker Word

A dependent marker word is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.

When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, it was very noisy.

Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while. Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

Connecting dependent and independent clauses is commonly done with . . .

Conjunctions

Goggle defines conjunction as, “a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g., and, but, if)”

Coordinating

·      These join equivalent structures, including any part of speech, phrases, and clauses.

·      
     FANBOYS! is an acronym to help remember the most common conjunctions. Jot down your thoughts on what conjunction is represented by each letter in the acronym. The solution is at the end of this section.

Correlative

These also join equivalent structures, and they come in pairs: both… and, not only… but also

Subordinating

·      These introduce adverb clauses (dependent clauses) and signal the relationship between the adverb clause and (usually) an independent clause.

·      They include since, because, once, and although.

Subordinating conjunctions begin dependent clauses. Dependent clauses can tell us whether we need a comma.

     ·      Does it come before the independent clause in the sentence? If yes, you need a comma! (e.g. “Because Jess likes cats, we stopped to pet the kitten.”)

     ·      Does it come after the independent clause instead? If yes, you DON’T need a comma. (e.g. “We stopped to pet the kitten because Jess likes cats.”)

When one of these subordinating conjunctions is used right before an independent clause, it makes the clause DEPENDENT instead.

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as its own sentence; it must be used with an independent clause.

     ·      If the DEPENDENT comes first, separate it from the independent with a comma.

     ·      If the INDEPENDENT clause comes first, no comma is needed before the dependent.

Think of the dependent clause as a child stepping into the street.

 ·      If the child (the dependent) is in the street first, you’d ask, “Where is that kid’s parent?” It would give you pause. So give it a comma.

 ·      If the parent steps out first and leads the child along, it doesn’t give you pause at all. You leave out the comma.

BONUS! Conjunctive adverbs

·      These connect independent clauses and frequently act as transitions. Think of them as coordinating conjunctions with superpowers.

·      They include words like however, similarly, therefore, and finally.

My advice with conjunctive adverbs is to rewrite your sentence or paragraph and eliminate the need for these terms as often as you can.

Acronym Answer:

FANBOYS!

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Closing Comments on Commas

You need a comma in all the following situations. Thanks to OWL from Perdue University for some of this information. Here’s a link for a more detailed look at comma abuse.

IC, IC (remember the conjunction)

DC, IC (ONLY if the DC comes first)

After an Introductory Phrase: In the beginning, God created . . .

Between items in a Series of items: …lions, tigers, and bears…

Some examples need more than the above shorthand to clear up.

Coordinate adjectives: Can alternate positions without changing the meaning of the sentence. He was a difficult, stubborn child. http://www.chompchomp.com/handouts/commatip06.pdf

Non-restrictive clause:  A non-restrictive clause is a clause which is not needed to identify the word it modifies, i.e., it is just additional information. As a non-restrictive clause is not essential to the meaning of a sentence, it is offset with commas. For example, Peter Jones, who plays goalkeeper for our village football team, has worked at his father's greengrocers for twenty years. (http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/non-restrictive_clauses.htm)

Appositive phrase: A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words. The insect, a cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table. It renames insect. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/appositive.htm

Parenthetical phrase: Can use parentheses, commas, dashes or brackets to include nonessential information. "The three boys, Bob, James, and Joey, went out to get some ice cream.  https://www.reference.com/education/example-parenthetical-phrase-c1c24aadb333348f

Participial phrase: Always function as adjectives, adding a description to the sentence. The horse trotting up to the fence hopes that you have an apple or carrot. Trotting up to the fence modifies the noun horse. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participlephrase.htm

Contrasting element: Sometimes you will want to emphasize two strongly contrasting ideas or points by inserting a comma between them: We should remember the lessons we've learned, not regret the time we spent on a pirate ship learning them. http://www.crosswaterfarm.com/commas/ce.html

Transitional phrase: These are very important. Important enough for a graphic.

 http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.png

Ultimately, use commas for

**CLARITY** (…within reason)

A good motto for commas is:

When in doubt, leave it out.

Next: ADverbs Often SUBTRACT from Your Writing

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